B – 71 Performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) Among Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Adults in the Los Angeles Area

Abstract Objective This cross-sectional study examined whether written and oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) performance correlates with other neuropsychological measures in healthy Spanish-speaking adults residing in Los Angeles. A secondary aim was to evaluate the influence of age and education on SDMT performance and explore its potential as a sensitive marker of cognitive functions linked to attention, processing speed, and associated brain systems. Method The sample included 39 healthy monolingual Spanish-speaking adults (25 females, 14 males) aged 18 to 80 years (M = 45.7, SD = 18.2), with an average of 10.3 years of formal education (SD = 4.6). Individuals with a documented history of neurological, developmental, or psychiatric disorders were excluded. All participants completed demographic and clinical interviews, along with a comprehensive standardized battery of neuropsychological tests. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and cognitive characteristics of the sample. Results Written and oral SDMT performance showed significant correlations with several cognitive domains, including attention, processing speed, executive functioning, and visual memory (r = –.703 to .528). SDMT scores were negatively correlated with age (oral r = –.541; written r = –.614) and positively with education (oral r = .508; written r = .632), supporting its sensitivity to demographic influences. Conclusion The SDMT appears to be a practical and efficient tool for assessing global cognitive functioning in Spanish-speaking adults. Given its strong associations with cognitive domains and demographic variables, SDMT performance may reflect the functional integrity of fronto-subcortical networks. These findings enhance understanding of brain-behavior relationships in diverse populations.