WHO-UCLA auditory verbal learning test: Normative data for Spanish-speaking adults in the United States

Issue title: Newly Developed Neuropsychological Norms for the Evaluation of Spanish-Speaking Adults in the United States

Guest editors: Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla and Diego Rivera

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos^{a; *} | Rivera, Diego^{b; c} | Rodriguez, Miriam J.^{d; e} | Christ, Bryan R.^f | Moreno, Oswaldo^a | Usuga, Daniela Ramos^g | Olabarrieta-Landa, Laiene^{b; c} | Perrin, Paul B.^{f; h} | Carrión, Carmen I.ⁱ | Morel Valdés, Gloria M.^j | Krch, Denise^{k; l} | Amaya, Ariana^m | Drago, Christin I.ⁿ | García, Patricia^{o; p} | Rivera, Patricia M.^q

Affiliations: [a] Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [b] Department of Health Science, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain | [c] Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain | [d] Clinical Psychology Program, Carlos Albizu University, Miami Campus, Miami, FL, USA | [e] Department of Health and Wellness Design, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA | [f] School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [g] Biomedical Research Doctorate Program, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain | [h] Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [i] Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA | [j] Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA | [k] Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, USA | [l] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA | [m] Private Practice, Global Wellness LLC, Miami-Dade, FL, USA | [n] The Chicago School, Los Angeles, CA, USA | [o] Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA | [p] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA | [q] Mental Health Department – Neuropsychology, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, PhD, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. E-mail: jcalasprilla@gmail.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Hispanics are a significant demographic in the U.S., with diverse cultures and languages. Assessing cognition in this group is complex as cultural and linguistic factors have been found to affect test performance. OBJECTIVE:To generate normative data on the World Health Organization-University of California Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT) in a sample of Spanish-speaking Hispanics residing in the U.S. METHODS:The sample included 245 Spanish-speaking individuals aged 18–80 across the U.S. (California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Participants were administered the WHO-UCLA AVLT as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. A Bayesian regression approach was used to estimate normative data, including covariates found to be important for predicting performances on measures of learning and memory. RESULTS:Bayesian models showed a logarithmic link between education and all WHO-UCLA AVLT trials, except recognition. For delayed recall, increased Spanish proficiency benefited women’s performance exclusively. Time in the U.S. was a significant predictor for total recall, indicating worse performance with longer residency. CONCLUSION:Recognizing cultural factors like language proficiency and duration of U.S. residence is essential for accurately evaluating cognitive function among Spanish-speaking Hispanics. This research emphasizes the importance of accounting for cultural nuances in developing norms for neuropsychological assessments, thereby improving their relevance and effectiveness in diverse communities.

Keywords: Acculturation, cultural diversity, hispanic or latino, memory and learning tests

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-240090

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 183-193, 2024