Performance on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test in non-demented middle-aged and elderly Koreans

BackgroundExisting studies on Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) performance in South Korea have not fully accounted for key demographic factors and often include limited sample sizes. This study examines ROCF performance in a non-demented aging sample to explore cognitive variability and provide comparative data for future research.ObjectiveThis study investigates the effects of age, education, and gender on performance on the ROCF test copy, immediate recall, and delayed recall trials for middle-aged and elderly Koreans.MethodsThe ROCF was administered to 461 community-dwelling, non-demented adults aged 50 to 90 years (M = 70.1, SD = 8.4), with 0 to 25 years of education (M = 11.4, SD = 4.7). We analyzed cognitive performance across age groups (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-90 years), education levels (0-8, 9-12, ≥13 years), and gender to characterize cognitive variability in a non-demented aging sample. Analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relative contributions of the demographic variables.ResultsLower education levels, advanced age, and female gender were associated with poorer performance. Education accounted for the greatest variation in the copy trials, whereas age accounted for the largest portion of the variance in the recall trials.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the necessity of accounting for age, education, and gender when interpreting ROCF test scores in aging populations, especially in South Korea where educational attainment among older adults varies widely. Based on these findings, we established reference values stratified by these demographic variables for middle-aged and older Korean adults.