Repeated neuropsychological assessments are common with older adults,
and the determination of clinically significant change across time is
an important issue. Regression-based prediction formulas have been
utilized with other patient and healthy control samples to predict
follow-up test performance based on initial performance and demographic
variables. Comparisons between predicted and observed follow-up
performances can assist clinicians in determining the significance of
change in the individual patient. In the current study, multiple
regression-based prediction equations for the 5 Indexes and Total Score
of the RBANS were developed for a sample of 223 community dwelling
older adults. These algorithms were then validated on a separate
elderly sample (N = 222). Minimal differences were present
between observed and predicted follow-up scores in the validation
sample, suggesting that the prediction formulas are clinically useful
for practitioners who assess older adults. A case example is presented
that illustrates how the algorithms can be used clinically.
(JINS, 2004, 10, 828–834.)