Initial phase performance in a 30-s verbal fluency task as being reflective of aging effect.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate if performance in a 30-s verbal semantic fluency task (i.e. animal naming) across five elderly aged groups (60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80-84 years) would be reflective of aging effect.

Methods: We analyzed differences in performance across 5-s phases and the moment of first word production in these five age groups.

Results: The following results were obtained: (i) with increasing age, the total number of words produced gradually declined (P < 0.001); (ii) there were significant differences in performance among the age groups in three phases (0-5, 6-10, 16-20 s) (P < 0.05); and (iii) the first word production within the first 5-s phase was significantly delayed in the 75-79 years and 80-84 years age groups compared with the rest of the age groups.

Conclusions: Performance in the initial 5-s phase might be sensitive to cognitive degeneration in normal older adults.