The effect of normal ageing on verbal fluency in the Maltese population

Abstract

Demographic information indicates that Malta has an ageing population. Thus, it is important to investigate normal ageing, given that with age, different cognitive functions start to decline. In order to understand the changes associated with normal ageing, this study examined how verbal fluency changes with increased age, in the Maltese population. A quantitative methodology was employed to collect and analyse data. A phonemic fluency (PF) task (letters F, A, S) and a Semantic fluency (SF) task (animal category and boy’s names) were administered to a sample of 49 cognitively intact Maltese adults aged between 30-83 years. Relevant demographic information was collected. Data was analysed using correlational methods, and group comparisons (≤ 49, 50-64 and ≥ 65). Results showed that age was negatively associated with both tasks. However, after controlling for the effect of education, PF no longer remained associated with age. This could have occurred due to an educational bias present in the study. Age groups comparisons indicated a decline in SF performance in the oldest group compared to the other groups; suggesting that this ability undergoes a decline in the late part of life. Overall, findings suggest that these two tasks measure different aspects of cognition and rely on different brain areas that are differentially age-sensitive; and indicate that not all cognitive abilities decline with age. Considering educational background in clinical settings, is noted as essential, before inferring the presence and magnitude of decline in these two tasks. The practical significance of the present study lies in its provision of innovative empirical information on normal cognitive ageing, in the Maltese population.