Spanish verbal fluency test Normative data in Argentina

Letter and category fluency tasks are used to assess semantic knowledge, re trieval ability, and executive functioning. The original normative data hav e been obtained mainly from English speaking populations; there are few pap ers on norms in other languages. The purpose of this study was to collect n ormative scores in Argentina and to evaluate the effects of sex, age, educa tion and cognitive status on the letter and category fluency tasks, in 266 healthy Spanish-speaking participants (16 to 86 years). Mean education span was 12.8 +/- 4 years. In each subject a neuropsychological battery (Minime ntal State Exam, Signoret Memory Battery, Boston Naming Test and Trail Maki ng Test) was carried out as well as category fluency (naming animals in one minute) and letter fluency (words begining with letter "p" in one minute). The sample was arranged into a group of subjects with less than 45 years a nd further groups up to 10 more years, until 75 years (or more) with three different levels of education. Significant effects were found for age, educ ation, and Minimental State Exam on performance of both fluencies. Mean per formance scores are presented for each group to be used in Argentina.