Mayo's Older Americans Normative Studies: Age- and IQ-Adjusted Norms for the Wechsler Memory Scale--Revised

ABSTRACT

Normative data sets for standardized neuropsychometric instruments often include adjustments for subject variables. There are reasons to believe, however, that improvements in interpretive accuracy that result from such adjustments are less than optimal. In particular, “years of formal education” may be less closely related to test performances than is general intellectual functioning. In this third of four reanalyses of results from the Mayo Clinic's Older Americans Normative Studies (MOANS) databases, age-adjusted index and scaled scores for the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised were found to be more strongly associated with Mayo age-adjusted WAIS-R Full Scale IQ scores (rs = .271 to .631) than with education (rs = .089 to .310) for healthy older examinees between 56 and 99 years of age. These associations were strongest for Attention/Concentration and General Memory Index scores and, in general, for individuals with average intelligence (cf. Dodrill, 1997 Dodrill , C. B. ( 1997 ). Myths of neuropsychology . The Clinical Neuropsychologist , 11 , 1 – 17 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] 1999 Dodrill , C. B. ( 1999 ). Myths of neuropsychology: Further considerations . The Clinical Neuropsychologist , 13 , 562 – 572 . [PUBMED] [INFOTRIEVE] [CSA] [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Tables of age- and IQ-adjusted percentile equivalents of Mayo age-adjusted WMS-R index scores and MOANS age-adjusted WMS-R subtest scaled scores are presented for eleven age ranges and seven IQ ranges.