Normative data on cross-cultural neuropsychological tests obtained from Mandarin-speaking adults across the life span

Although Mandarin is the world's most commonly spoken native language, normative data on neuropsychological tests for this population are limited. Therefore, samples of young (n = 142, M age = 35.77 years), middle-aged (n = 71, M age = 52.65), and elderly (n = 111, M age = 69.27) Mandarin speaking adults living in Beijing, China were given a battery of neuropsychological measures. The instruments selected for use were easily administered and had been validly used in other cultural settings (e.g., Trails A, Five Digit Test, Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation, Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT)). As expected, age and education where significantly related to neuropsychological performance. Gender, however, was a moderating variable only for the elderly group. In addition to their clinical applicability, findings are used to exemplify a particular multicultural assessment strategy.