THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND AGE ON HALSTEAD-REITAN NEUROPSYCHOLOGICALTEST-PERFORMANCE

Age-cohort differences for seven tests from the Halstead-Reitan Neurop sychological Battery, for overall performance on the Impairment Index, and for a multivariate composite of the seven scores, were examined f or 427 subjects falling into six age groups (15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-5 4, 55-64, and 65 years and over). Univariate and multivariate-discrimi nant analyses were performed. Poorer performance was observed across a ge-cohorts (linear trend) for all tests and the Impairment Index. A ve ry modest Age-Cohort (linear trend) x Gender interaction was observed only for the Category Test. Decline in Category Test performance acros s age-cohorts was more pronounced for women than for men. For women, t he best discrimination among age groups was observed for the Category Test. For men, Tactile Performance Localization Test discriminated bes t. The poorest discrimination among age groups was seen for Finger-Tap ping for men and Tactile Performance Test - Total (time score) for wom en. Results were consistent with a model of specific nested within gen eral decline. Although linear-trend across age groups was observed for all tests, the strongest discriminations were associated with neurops ychological tests of abstraction and complex problem-solving performan ce.