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Background Low handgrip strength (HGS) is a measure of poor skeletal muscle performance and a marker of ill health and frailty. Muscle quality (MQ) is a measure of muscle strength relative to muscle mass. We aimed to develop normative data for HGS and MQ, report age‐related prevalence of low HGS and MQ, and determine the relationship with age, anthropometry, and body composition for women in Australia. Methods This cross‐sectional analysis included data from 792 women (ages 28–95 years) assessed by the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Duplicate measures of HGS were performed for each hand with a dynamometer (Jamar) and the mean of maximum values used for analyses. Dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry‐derived lean mass for the arms was used to calculate MQ as HGS/lean mass (kg/kg). Body mass index (BMI) was categorized as normal (BMI < 25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and obese (>30.0 kg/m2). Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated as whole body fat/height2 (kg/m2) and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) as lean mass of arms and legs/height2 (kg/m2). Results Mean (±SD) of HGS values for normal BMI, overweight, and obese groups were 25 (±7), 24 (±7), and 24 (±7) kg, P = 0.09, and for MQ, 12 (±3), 11 (±3), and 10 (±3) kg/kg, P < 0.001. Our data indicated a quadratic relationship between age and HGS or MQ. Mean HGS and MQ remained stable until the fifth age decade then declined steadily with increasing age; therefore, we used data for women (n = 283) aged 28–49 years as the young adult reference group, with mean (SD) values for HGS 28 (±6) kg and MQ 12 (±3) kg/kg. The prevalence of low (T‐score < −2) HGS and MQ for women 80 years and older was 52.2% and 39.6%, respectively. In multivariable models, age‐adjusted HGS was associated with FMI (B = −0.13, P = 0.004) and ALMI (1.03, <0.001) while age‐adjusted MQ was associated with BMI (−0.15, <0.001) but not with FMI. In a sensitivity analysis, the same pattern remained after the removal of 129 women who reported hand and/or arm pain. Conclusions Mean HGS and MQ declined with advancing age in older women. Our data suggest that while mean HGS increased with appendicular lean mass and decreased with body fat mass, there was no association with BMI. By contrast, MQ decreased with increasing BMI, but not with increasing adiposity.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of glaucoma by establishing normative data on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, specifically for healthy Koreans, using Huvitz spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). This study also aimed to compare the obtained RNFL thickness data with normative values provided by the Cirrus OCT system to identify any device-specific differences that could impact glaucoma diagnosis. Methods: This prospective observational study included 148 healthy participants aged 20–69 years at Gangnam Severance Hospital. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluations, including RNFL thickness measurements using Huvitz OCT, which were compared with existing normative Cirrus OCT data. RNFL thickness was analyzed by quadrant (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) and clock-hour sectors. Statistical analysis included one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for group comparisons and linear regression to assess age-related changes. Results: The average RNFL thickness was 91.13 ± 13 μm, with the thickest measurements in the superior quadrant (111.85 ± 18.53 μm) and the thinnest in the nasal quadrant (68.35 ± 20.03 μm). Significant age-related thinning was observed across all quadrants, particularly the superior and inferior quadrants. Comparison with the Cirrus OCT system revealed significant differences, with the Huvitz OCT results showing thinner RNFL in the superior and inferior quadrants. Conclusions: This study established normative RNFL thickness data in healthy Koreans using Huvitz OCT, providing essential reference data for clinical glaucoma diagnosis. The differences between Huvitz and Cirrus OCT systems underscore the need for device- and population-specific normative data to improve diagnostic accuracy in glaucoma management.

Understanding how and when cognitive change occurs over the life span is a prerequisite for understanding normal and abnormal development and aging. Most studies of cognitive change are constrained, however, in their ability to detect subtle, but theoretically informative life-span changes, as they rely on either comparing broad age groups or sparse sampling across the age range. Here, we present convergent evidence from 48,537 online participants and a comprehensive analysis of normative data from standardized IQ and memory tests. Our results reveal considerable heterogeneity in when cognitive abilities peak: Some abilities peak and begin to decline around high school graduation; some abilities plateau in early adulthood, beginning to decline in subjects' 30s; and still others do not peak until subjects reach their 40s or later. These findings motivate a nuanced theory of maturation and age-related decline, in which multiple, dissociable factors differentially affect different domains of cognition.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a rapid screening battery, also including subtests to assess frontal functions such as set-shifting, abstraction and cognitive flexibility. MoCA seems to be useful to identify non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subcortical dementia; it has high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing MCI from mild Alzheimer’s Disease. Previous studies revealed that certain items of MoCA may be culturally biased and highlighted the need for population-based norms for the MoCA. The aim of present study was to collect normative values in a sample of Italian healthy subjects. Four hundred and fifteen Italian healthy subjects (252 women and 163 men) of different ages (age range 21–95 years) and educational level (from primary to university) underwent MoCA and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and education significantly influenced performance on MoCA. No significant effect of gender was found. From the derived linear equation, a correction grid for MoCA raw scores was built. Inferential cut-off score, estimated using a non-parametric technique, is 15.5 and equivalent scores were computed. Correlation analysis showed a significant but weak correlation between MoCA adjusted scores with MMSE adjusted scores ( r  = 0.43, p  < 0.001). The present study provided normative data for the MoCA in an Italian population useful for both clinical and research purposes.

Background/objectivesThe existing literature on normative data for accommodative facility (AF) in African populations is limited to high school students. There is no normative data for vergence facility (VF) in African children, so there are no benchmarks for comparison in case analysis, diagnosis, and management. The study aimed to establish normative data for AF in children aged 8–12 years. Additionally, the study sought to determine normative data for VF in children aged 8–17 years in the Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana.MethodsNormal children (510) were recruited through a comprehensive oculo-visual examination of 2,300 basic school-going children, aged 8–17 years. AF was measured with a ± 2D flipper lens for 1 min. VF was measured with a 3-base-in/12 base-out flipper prism for 1 min. Normative data were derived using the median with interquartile ranges (IQR) and considering the spread of data within the minimum and maximum ranges.ResultsA median value of 13 cpm with IQR of 4 cpm was determined for monocular accommodative facility (MAF). The normative central tendency for MAF for school children 8–17 years ranges from 9 to 17 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 cpm. A median value of 13 cpm with IQR of 3 cpm was determined for the binocular accommodative facility (BAF). The normative central tendency for BAF for school children aged 8–17 years ranged from 9 to 14 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 cpm. A median value of 14 cpm with IQR of 4 cpm was determined for VF. The normative central tendency for VF for school children 8–17 years ranged from 10 to 18 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 21 cpm.ConclusionThe normative data apply only to similarly aged Ghanaian children and serve as standards for comparison to clinical data for MAF, BAF, and VF during case analysis.

Norms for children aged 6–19 years were developed in 1985 for the Box and Block Test (BBT) and updated in 2013 for 3–10-year-olds. Evidence suggests that past normative data may need to be updated due to changes in children’s hand use over the past 40 years. To compare children’s performance on the BBT with existing 1985 normative data. Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional observational study to validate the Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test (CMDT) using the BBT. All were healthy volunteers, aged 7 to 18 years, with no known physical, cognitive, or emotional conditions. Participants completed study procedures in a pediatric hospital. During data collection we noted low performance on the BBT and hypothesized a decline compared to the 1985 norms. Participants completed one trial of the BBT with each hand. We compared our sample to the normative sample using mean number of blocks placed in 60 seconds and standard error of the means using two-tailed, one sample t-tests. Of 816 children screened, 181 were eligible and consented to participate. A total of 98 females and 83 males participated. Each gender-by-age group-by-hand category ranged from 4–21 participants. In each group, means were statistically significantly lower than norms, indicated by nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals and t-test results. The difference in blocks placed in 60 seconds ranged from 9.1 to 31.3 fewer blocks. This study suggests that children’s manual dexterity has declined over the past 40 years. Clinicians should consider this when using the BBT to evaluate performance. This study lacked enough subjects to establish new normative data but suggests the 1985 norms need to be updated. Our findings provide evidence of a decline in manual dexterity among children on the BBT since 1985. •Children’s manual dexterity scores have declined over the past 40 years.•The Box and Block Test norms for 6–19-year-olds from 1985 are no longer valid.•When evaluating children, clinicians should assessments with up-to-date norms.

Background The objectives of the study were to generate normative data for the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) for different age groups for men and women and to further investigate the factor structure in the general population. Methods Nationally representative face-to face household surveys were conducted in Germany in 2008 ( n  = 2524). Results Normative data for the Oslo Social Support Scale were generated for men and women (52.3% female) and different age levels (mean age (SD) of 48.9 (18.3) years). Men had mean scores comparable to women (10.1 [SD = 2.3] vs. 10.2 [SD = 2.2]). The EFA resulted in a clear one-factor solution for the OSSS-3. Conclusions The normative data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparisons of social support with other populations.

BackgroundThe availability of fine-grained, culture-specific psychometric outcomes can favor the interpretation of scores of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the most frequently used instrument to screen for mild cognitive dysfunctions in both instrumental and non-instrumental domains. This study thus aimed at providing: (i) updated, region-specific norms for the Italian MoCA, by also (ii) comparing them to pre-existing ones with higher geographical coverage; (iii) information on sensitivity and discriminative capability at the item level.MethodsFive hundred and seventy nine healthy individuals from Northern Italy (208 males, 371 females; age: 63.4 ± 15, 21–96; education: 11.3 ± 4.6, 1–25) were administered the MoCA. Item Response Theory (IRT) was adopted to assess item difficulty and discrimination. Normative values were derived by means of the Equivalent Scores (ESs) method, applied to the MoCA and its sub-scales. Average ESs were also computed. Agreement with previous ESs classification was assessed via Cohen’s k.ResultsAge and education significantly predicted all MoCA measures except for Orientation, which was related to age only. No sex differences were detected when tested along with age and education. Substantial disagreements with previous ESs classifications were detected. Several items proved to be scarcely sensitive, especially the place item from Orientation and the letter detection task. Memory items showed high discriminative capability, along with certain items assessing executive functions and orientation.DiscussionItem-level information herewith provided for the Italian MoCA can help interpret its scores by Italian practitioners. Italian practitioners should consider an adaptive use of region-specific norms for the MoCA.

A normative description of a motion details the necessary and sufficient criteria to identify that motion. It equips researchers with a shared lexicon for describing their research and, in this way, adoption of a normative description facilitates communication within the research community. Although there is an abundance of descriptions of sit-to-stand movement, there is not a commonly accepted normative description of sit-to-stand; study-specific descriptions are commonplace. This work evaluates the breadth of existing sit-to-stand descriptions using new experimental data from 15 healthy young adults standing from a 46 cm chair. Our goal is to develop a normative description of the sit-to-stand motion that is in harmony with the literature. After aligning experimental data to seat-off (the one sit-to-stand event with a clear definition), events defining the start of sit-to-stand, seat-off, and the end of sit-to-stand are identified using a density-based clustering method. Then, the intermediary events of start of seat unloading, end of momentum transfer, and beginning of stabilization are determined while maintaining consistent sequencing and biomechanical meaning. These six events of sit-to-stand are determined from trunk, hip, knee, and ankle angle data and vertical ground reaction forces. The events are in greatest accordance with the descriptions of sit-to-stand introduced by Schenkman et al. (1990) and Kralj et al. (1990), and the event timings are in alignment with the findings of other researchers. The proposed description of healthy sit-to-stand promotes consistency in the description of this motion and adoption of this description will promote effective communication in sit-to-stand research.

Background There has been a marked tendency for researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to shift their focus from risk to resilience. This should be assessed by comparing the outcome to a context specific reference group. The objectives of the study were to generate normative data for the BRCS for different age groups for men and women and to further investigate the construct validity and factor structure in a general population. Methods Nationally representative face-to face household surveys were conducted in Germany in 2013 ( n  = 2508). Results Normative data for the BRCS were generated for men and women (53.2% female) and different age levels (mean age (SD) of 49.7 (18.0) years). Men had significantly higher mean scores compared with women (14.9 [SD = 3.2] vs. 14.6 [SD = 3.1]). The results of the EFA and CFA clearly indicate a unidimensional solution with one factor. Furthermore, the invariance of the one-factor model was tested for the whole sample across gender and six age groups. Conclusions The normative data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparisons of resilience with other populations.