NORMS FOR OLDER NEW-ZEALANDERS ON THE TRAIL-MAKING TEST

Despite frequent calls for the development of appropriate norms for ol der people for many widely used neuropsychological tests, there remain s a paucity of such data. In the present study we collected norms for the Trail-Making Test based upon the performance of 127 New Zealanders aged 60 years or older. The Trail-Making Test is a popular test with clinicians for the assessment of attentional difficulties, combining e ase of administration, economy of time and money, and palatability to patients. In addition to providing norms for 60 to 85 year olds on thi s test, regression equations that allowed us to give expected scores o n the Trail-Making Test taking intellectual ability into account, were developed. The results underline the importance of using appropriate age-based norms injudging performance and making clinical decisions. T he added importance of considering intelligence is also demonstrated.