[Normative data for the MMSE, the Benton visual retention test, the Isaacs's set test, the digit symbol substitution test and the Zazzo's cancellation task in subjects over the age 70: results from the PAQUID Study].

UNLABELLED: Introduction. The aim of this study was to produce norms for the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Benton visual retention test, Isaacs's set test, the digit symbol substitution test and Zazzo's cancellation task (short 8-line version), in elderly people.
METHODS: Data was collected in a representative sample of 1780 subjects aged 70 years and older, followed-up for five years after inclusion in the PAQUID study. Only individuals who did not have characteristics likely to alter their cognitive performance were considered.
RESULTS: Descriptive statistics (median, tenth percentile, first and third quartile) were used to define gender-, age- and education-specific norms.
CONCLUSIONS: These norms can be used by clinicians to interpret a patient's performance on several widely used cognitive tests according to the scores obtained by individuals of the same age, gender and educational level.