@article{pmid40985820,

title = {Assessing Limb Apraxia in Quebec: Normative Study of the Brief Battery for the Evaluation of Praxis in Healthy French-Speaking Adults},

author = {Joël Macoir and Mariane Landry and Carol Hudon},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acaf086},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-09-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study presents normative data for the Batterie Brève d'Évaluation des Praxies (BBEP), a brief screening tool developed to assess symbolic gestures, pantomimes, and imitation of meaningless gestures-three domains commonly impaired in limb apraxia. While the BBEP was originally validated in a French population, no normative data have been available for French-speaking adults in Quebec. Given that cultural, linguistic, and demographic factors may influence gesture production and interpretation, the current study aimed to generate region-specific reference values to support accurate clinical assessment.nnMETHOD: A total of 240 neurologically and cognitively healthy French-speaking adults from Quebec were assessed using the BBEP. Norms were stratified by age and are presented in percentile format to facilitate clinical interpretation.nnRESULTS: Results indicated significant effects of both age and education, with older as well as educated participants obtaining lower scores across all subtests. Compared to the original French sample, Quebec participants demonstrated slightly lower performance, particularly in the imitation of meaningless gestures, likely reflecting cultural and demographic differences. Spearman rank-order correlations-computed while controlling for age, sex, and education-revealed weak and non-significant associations among the three subtests, suggesting they assess distinct components of praxis.nnCONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first culturally-adapted normative data for the BBEP in a French-Quebec population. These findings underscore the need for region-specific norms in apraxia assessment and highlight the clinical relevance of evaluating each praxis domain independently. The BBEP may prove useful in the early detection of subtle praxis deficits associated with neurodegenerative conditions or cerebrovascular events.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid40974549,

title = {Exploring Factors Affecting Verbal Fluency in Healthy Aging},

author = {Pascale Tremblay and Lydia Gagnon and Edith Durand and Joël Macoir},

doi = {10.1111/nyas.70064},

issn = {1749-6632},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-09-01},

journal = {Ann N Y Acad Sci},

abstract = {Word-finding difficulties are a hallmark of aging. Verbal fluency tasks are broadly used to measure word-finding difficulties in adults due to their sensitivity and ease of use. However, several questions remain regarding verbal fluency in aging, particularly the strategies that may evolve over time and the role of potentially protective factors, such as cognitive engagement and social interactions, in mitigating age-related cognitive decline. In this study, we investigated verbal fluency in 144 healthy, community-dwelling adults aged 20-87 years. Participants completed both semantic and phonemic fluency tasks and several questionnaires and assessments. We analyzed accuracy and error types, as well as the occurrence of self-talk and filled hesitations and their impact on lexical access. Further, eight factors previously associated with cognitive reserve were examined: education, practice of group singing, social participation, cognitive level, self-reported health, multilingualism, positive outlook, and hearing. While filled hesitations were stable across age, self-talk increased nonlinearly with age. Singing experience, higher educational attainment, and better global cognition were associated with better fluency. However, these factors showed minimal evidence of protection against age-related decline in word retrieval.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid39976167,

title = {Quebec French Version of the Hayling Sentence Completion Test: Error Scoring Guidelines, Normative Data for Adults and the Elderly and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease},

author = {Joël Macoir and Véronick Lapierre and Marie-Michelle Brouillard and Phylicia Verreault and Mariane Landry and Carol Hudon},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acaf014},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-08-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {6},

pages = {1133--1145},

abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Deficits in inhibition have been associated with various clinical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. The Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT) is an assessment tool commonly used in clinical settings to measure verbal initiation and prepotent verbal response inhibition. Although it is used by numerous clinical and research groups in Quebec, normative data for the HSCT are not yet available for French-Quebec speakers.nnOBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to provide error scoring guidelines and normative data in the adult population of French Quebec for the HSCT-QC (Study 1) and to determine its known-group discriminant validity (Study 2).nnRESULTS: The results of Study 1, based on a sample of 214 healthy individuals aged 50 to 89, indicated that age significantly affected test performance, while educational level and sex did not. As no transformations were able to normalize the score distribution, percentile ranks for HSCT-QC performance were calculated solely based on age. Results from Study 2 demonstrated that the HSCT-QC effectively distinguishes the performance of healthy participants from those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.nnCONCLUSION: Norms and psychometric data for the HSCT-QC will be highly beneficial for assessing inhibitory control in French-speaking adults in Quebec, Canada.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid40792495,

title = {Normative Data for the Adult Turkish Population and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease of the TDQ-30 Tr, a Color Picture-naming Test for Adults and the Elderly},

author = {Elif İkbal Eskioglu and Fenise Selin Karali and Samet Tosun and Nilgün Cinar and Joël Macoir},

doi = {10.1002/brb3.70718},

issn = {2162-3279},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-08-01},

journal = {Brain Behav},

volume = {15},

number = {8},

pages = {e70718},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Individuals with mild anomia often have difficulty finding words during conversations, even when they get normal results on standard language evaluations. The high frequency and familiarity of target objects may lead to the insensitivity of some naming assessments, complicating diagnosis. This study aims to adapt the Test de dénomination de Québec-30 images (TDQ-30) into Turkish, develop normative data adapted to the Turkish population, and determine its validity in Turkish-speaking patients.nnMETHODS: Data were collected from a total of 464 participants (414 healthy controls, 25 with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 25 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)) by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Detection Test for Language Impairments in Adults and the Aged-Turkish version (DTLA-Tr), and Test de dénomination de Québec-30-Turkish version (TDQ-30 Tr).nnRESULTS: In Study 1, TDQ-30 was translated into Turkish and checked for cultural appropriateness for the Turkish community. In study 2, the adapted version, TDQ-30 tr, was applied to 414 healthy adults and elderly individuals to establish normative data for the test. In study 3, the analyses made known the validity of TDQ-30 Tr, and it was found that TDQ-30 can differentiate between healthy participants and those with AD and MCI, with healthy participants showing better results.nnCONCLUSION: In summary, the TDQ-30 Tr is an effective and dependable tool for identifying mild anomia associated with neurological impairments in Turkish-speaking adults and the elderly. Its ease of use makes it a vital instrument for improving evaluation tools in research and clinical settings in Turkey.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid39743522,

title = {Effectiveness of sensorimotor therapy on action naming in post-stroke aphasia: a systematic review},

author = {Manon Spigarelli and Joël Macoir},

doi = {10.1080/09638288.2024.2439015},

issn = {1464-5165},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-07-01},

journal = {Disabil Rehabil},

volume = {47},

number = {15},

pages = {3753--3772},

abstract = {PURPOSE: Aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain injury, often results in action naming difficulties. This systematic review reports and analyzes the studies on speech-therapy interventions that use sensorimotor strategies for treating isolated verbs in individuals with chronic aphasia.nnMETHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, the MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases were searched on January 18, 2024, for articles published in English and French between 1996 and 2024. The articles were screened and assessed for quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP). The studies were also categorized according to the treatment methods used.nnRESULTS: Fourteen studies were included and divided into three treatment categories: (1) action observation ( = 7), (2) gestures treatments ( = 5), and (3) multicomponent therapy ( = 2). While gestures may be effective as part of a multimodal therapy strategy, they do not lead to better outcomes when used in isolation or in combination with traditional cueing methods.nnCONCLUSION: Multimodal therapy, combining gestures with traditional methods, could benefit people with chronic aphasia. However, isolated gesture therapy showed less consistent results. Further research with randomized controlled trials is needed to validate these results and investigate further communication outcomes.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid39902851,

title = {Normative Data for the Modified Location Learning Test (m-LLT) in the French-Quebec Population Aged Between 50 and 89 Years},

author = {Alexandre St-Hilaire and Camille Fuduche and Florence Belzile and Joël Macoir and Carol Hudon},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acaf009},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-07-01},

urldate = {2025-07-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {5},

pages = {1002--1010},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish normative data for the modified Location Learning Test (m-LLT), considering sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, and educational level.nnMATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine middle-aged and elderly people aged 50 years and older were recruited from the French-speaking population in Quebec (Canada). The m-LLT procedure described by Kessels et al. (2006) was used. Percentiles were derived for performance scores (Trial 1, Total Displacement Score, Learning Index, Delayed Recall Displacements), stratified by sociodemographic characteristics where appropriate.nnRESULTS: Regarding the sex variable, the number of displacements in Trial 1 and for the Total Displacement Score were higher in men than in women. Age was positively associated with the Total Displacement Score and Delayed Recall Displacements and negatively associated with the Learning Index. Education was positively associated with the Learning Index and Delayed Recall Displacements. Two-thirds of the normative sample achieved a perfect score on the fifth and final learning trial.nnCONCLUSIONS: Learning was better in women than in men, which may be explained by the use of verbal and nonverbal strategies and environmental awareness favoring women. The decline in learning and retrieval with age can be explained, among other reasons, by a less strategic approach during the encoding phase, a decline in other cognitive domains, or poorer imagery-based representations of the stimuli. The associations between education, strategic retrieval, and cognitive reserve are discussed. Overall, these normative data will enhance the detection of cognitive decline in geriatric clinical or research settings.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid38916196,

title = {Mini-SEA: Validity and Normative Data for the French-Quebec Population Aged 50 Years and Above},

author = {Hannah Mulet-Perreault and Mariane Landry and Robert Jr Laforce and Joël Macoir and Carol Hudon},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acae051},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {3},

pages = {694--707},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The mini Social cognition & Emotional Assessment (mini-SEA) is a social cognition battery which assesses theory of mind and emotion recognition. Currently, no psychometrically validated measure of social cognition with adapted normative data exists for the middle-aged and elderly French-Quebec population. This project aims to determine the known-group discriminant validity of a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the mini-SEA between cognitively healthy people, those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or living with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This study also aims to examine the stability of mini-SEA's performance over a 3-4-month time period, as well as to produce normative data for French-Quebec people aged 50 years. Normative data are derived for the full and an abbreviated version of the Faux Pas subtest.nnMETHOD: The sample included 211 French-speaking participants from Quebec (Canada) aged 50 to 89 years. Mini-SEA's performance between a sub-sample of cognitively healthy people (n = 20), those with MCI (n = 20) or with AD (n = 20) was compared. A sub-sample of cognitively healthy people (n = 30) performed the task twice to estimate test-retest reliability. Socio-demographic variables' effects on scores were examined to produce normative data in the form of regression equations or percentile ranks.nnRESULTS: Significant differences emerged between cognitively healthy people and those with MCI or AD. Moreover, scores were relatively stable over a period of 3 to 4 months. Finally, for the normative data, age, gender, and education were associated with performance on the mini-SEA or its subtests.nnCONCLUSIONS: This study improves and standardizes social cognition's assessment among French-Quebec individuals, which will help characterize their cognitive profile.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid39881515,

title = {The TDQ-60 Tr-a Picture-Naming Test to Assess Anomia in Turkish Adults and the Elderly: Normative Data and Validation Study in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment},

author = {Fenise Selin Karalı and Samet Tosun and Elif İkbal Eskioğlu and Nilgün Çınar and Joël Macoir},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acaf005},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {3},

pages = {529--540},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Anomia is defined by difficulty in retrieving content words like nouns and verbs from long-term memory, independent of any impairments related to articulatory movements or motor speech execution. The tools for measuring picture naming, the conventional method for assessing anomia, are very limited in Turkey. The aim of this study was to adapt the Test de Dénomination de Québec-60 images/Quebec picture-naming test-60 pictures (TDQ-60), a color picture-naming test for adults and the elderly into Turkish, establish its validity, and develop normative data adapted to the Turkish population to address this gap.nnMETHOD: We conducted three separate studies. The objective of Study 1 was to culturally adapt the Test de Dénomination de Québec-60 images. In Study 2, we developed normative data for the TDQ-60 Tr adapted to the adult and elderly population in Turkey based on the performance of 414 community residents aged 18 years and older. In Study 3, the known-group validity, the convergent validity, and the test-retest validity of the TDQ-60 Tr were determined.nnRESULTS: The results show that the TDQ-60 Tr is reliable in distinguishing participants with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment from healthy participants. The TDQ-60 Tr measures the same cognitive construct as the Boston Naming Test and also has a high test-retest reliability.nnCONCLUSIONS: In summary, the TDQ-60 Tr is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing naming abilities in adults and the elderly. The results of this study have significant implications for the assessment of naming ability in Turkish-speaking patients. Our work serves as a crucial connection to address the lack of tools for diagnosing anomia in Turkey.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid39004918,

title = {Normative Data for the Famous People Fluency Test in the Adult French-Quebec Population and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease},

author = {Joël Macoir and Mariane Landry and Carol Hudon},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acae053},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {3},

pages = {708--717},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The production of words in verbal fluency tests relies heavily on executive functions and linguistic abilities. New tests such as the famous people fluency test can also be useful in clinical practice and research. This test, in which participants are asked to name so many famous people, has the potential to distinguish healthy individuals from participants with neurological disorders such as mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.nnMETHOD: The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric validity of the test (Study 1) and to provide normative data in the adult population of French Quebec for the famous people fluency test (Study 2).nnRESULTS: The results of the normative study, derived from a sample of 378 healthy individuals between the ages of 50 and 92, showed that age and educational level significantly influence performance on the test. Therefore, percentile ranks were calculated for performance on the famous people fluency test, stratified for these two variables. The results of Study 2 showed that the test differentiated the performance of healthy participants from the performance of participants with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. The results also showed that the famous people fluency test has adequate convergent validity, established with a semantic fluency test, and that the results showed good stability over time (test-retest validity).nnCONCLUSION: Norms and psychometric data for the famous people fluency test will improve the ability of clinicians and researchers to better recognize executive and language impairments associated with pathological conditions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{pmid38615178,

title = {The Quebec Semantic Memory Battery: Development, Standardization, and Psychometric Assessment of a Semantic Memory Battery in French},

author = {Laura Monetta and Angela Boland and Joël Macoir and Christine L Sheppard and Vanessa Taler},

doi = {10.1093/arclin/acae029},

issn = {1873-5843},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

journal = {Arch Clin Neuropsychol},

volume = {40},

number = {3},

pages = {681--693},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: People with aphasia often experience semantic memory (SM) impairment. To improve diagnostic outcomes, SM tasks should recruit various sensory input channels (oral, written, and pictographic), permitting accessible, complete evaluation. There is a need for SM batteries for French-speaking Quebecers that use multiple input channels. The present study, therefore, describes the development of a novel French-language semantic battery: la Batterie québécoise de la mémoire sémantique (BQMS), the assessment of the BQMS's psychometric properties, and the establishment of normative data for the BQMS.nnMETHOD: We first developed eight SM tasks. Following a pilot validation study, we determined the BQMS's reliability and validity, to ensure consistent, accurate detection of SM impairment. Among French-speaking Quebecers with cerebrovascular aphasia (n = 10), people with the semantic variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (n = 4), and healthy controls (n = 14), we examined its convergent validity, concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. Finally, we established normative data for the BQMS by calculating cut-off scores per task that indicate SM impairment (in 93 cognitively healthy French-speaking Quebecers), stratified by sociodemographic variables associated with performance.nnRESULTS: The BQMS shows high concurrent, discriminant, and convergent validity, as well as good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The cut-off score indicating SM impairment ranged from the 2nd to 25th percentiles (stratified by task, age, and sex).nnCONCLUSIONS: The BQMS's psychometric properties indicate that it could be a valuable clinical tool for detecting SM impairment. Our normative data will help clinicians detect such impairments.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}