The effect of age and gender on cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by computerized series tests: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim To assess age- and gender-associated differences in cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by the Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac (CRD-series) tests. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted between 2009 and 2019, enrolled 3420 participants (2012 women) in the age ranging from 18 to 88 years. The participants solved three CRD-series chronometric tests: discrimination of the light signal position (CRD311), complex psychomotor coordination (CRD411), and simple arithmetic operations (CRD11). We analyzed total test solving time (TTST), minimum single task solving time (MinT), number of errors, initial dissociation, and start, end, and total ballasts as measures of wasted time in the first half of the test, second half of the test, and total test time, respectively. Results Age was positively associated with MinT and TTST in all used tests (P<0.001), while initial dissociation, start ballast, and end ballast significantly increased with age (P<0.001). On the CRD11 test, men had shorter TTST than women (P=0.012), shorter start, end, and total ballasts (P<0.001), and made fewer errors than women (P<0.001). On the CRD311 test, women had shorter start (P=0.002), end, and total ballast (P<0.001) than men. On the CRD411 test, men performed better than women on all variables (P<0.001). Conclusion Decreased cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by the CRD-series tests were associated with advanced age. Men performed better than women on simple arithmetic and complex psychomotor coordination tests, whereas women lost less time on the test of light signal position discrimination.