How to Assess Executive Functions in a Low-Educated and Multicultural Population Using a Switching Verbal Fluency Test (the TFA-93) in Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Abstract

Few neuropsychological tests are available to assess executive dysfunction in low-educated and multicultural populations. To address this issue, the TFA-93, a switching verbal fluency test to assess cognitive flexibility, was administered to 70 healthy controls, 57 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and 21 with a clinical diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease associated with frontal disorders. Most of the participants were low-educated and nonnative French speakers. The TFA-93 comprises 2 categorical fluency tasks (animals and fruits) and a fluency task in which participants have to switch between animals and fruits. Correct responses and errors were collected, and a flexibility index expressed the switching cost. Results showed that correct responses were lower, and the switching cost was greater in both patient groups. In low-educated and multicultural populations, the TFA-93 seems to be a good alternative to assess flexibility compared to the standard neuropsychological tools based on academic abilities.