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Normative values of the Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery in an Italian young adolescent population: the influence of age, gender, and education

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A Correction to this article was published on 05 April 2019

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Abstract

Aim

The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB) is frequently used to estimate cognitive function in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), while it has been included in few studies on young MS, also because of the absence of normative values. We aim to evaluate the impact of age, gender, and education on BRB scores in a young adolescent population.

Methods

We administered the BRB to 76, 14-to-17-year-old, healthy subjects. Linear regression models were used to assess the impact of age, gender, and education on sub-test scores. When statistically significant (p < 0.05), we used the regression coefficient to correct the raw scores.

Results

Younger age was associated with better performance on SPART (β = − 2.54; p < 0.05) and SPART-D (β = − 1.06; p < 0.05). Male gender was associated with better performance on SPART (β = 3.40; p < 0.05), SPART-D (β = 1.41; p < 0.05), PASAT-3 (β = 5.58; p < 0.05), and PASAT-2 (β = 5.07; p < 0.05). Educational attainments were associated with better performance on SPART (β = 3.23; p < 0.05) and SPART-D (β = 1.28; p < 0.05). Cut-off points were suggested at the 5th lowest percentile.

Interpretation

Age, gender, and education must be accounted for when applying the BRB to young population. Present results can prove useful for future clinical and research applications in adolescent MS patients.

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Change history

  • 05 April 2019

    The published version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in Table 2.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to teachers and school directors that allowed this study.

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Author notes

  1. Fabrizia Falco and Marcello Moccia contributed equally as first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini, 5 - Building 17, Ground floor, Naples, Italy

    Fabrizia Falco, Marcello Moccia, Antonio Carotenuto, Andrea Falco, Teresa Costabile, Francesca Lauro, Vincenzo Brescia Morra & Roberta Lanzillo

  2. Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

    Alessandro Chiodi & Angelo D’Amelio

  3. Active Inclusion and Student Participation Service, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Laura Rosa & Kyrie Piscopo

Authors
  1. Fabrizia Falco
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  2. Marcello Moccia
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Correspondence to Marcello Moccia.

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Falco, F., Moccia, M., Chiodi, A. et al. Normative values of the Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery in an Italian young adolescent population: the influence of age, gender, and education. Neurol Sci 40, 713–717 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-3712-3

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