Abstract
Introduction: The Digit Span Test (DST) is a widely used neuropsychological instrument for assessing attention, working memory, and short-term memory. Normative values of the DST vary across countries and are influenced by demographic factors such as age, sex, and educational level. To date, no study has established normative DST values for the Vietnamese population. Objective: To determine the normative values of the Digit Span Test for assessing attention, short-term memory, and working memory among Vietnamese adults aged 40 years and older, and to examine the associations between DST performance and demographic characteristics, including age, sex, and educational level. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 59 cognitively normal Vietnamese adults aged 40 years and older at 30-4 Hospital. Results: The normative scores for the Digit Span Forward (DSF) and Digit Span Backward (DSB) tests were 8.92 ± 1.93 and 6.09 ± 2.40, respectively. Age and educational level were significantly associated with DSF performance, whereas only educational level was significantly associated with DSB performance. Conclusions: Establishing normative values for the Digit Span Test and evaluating the influence of demographic factors on DST performance provide an appropriate reference for the Vietnamese population. These findings may contribute to the development of population-specific cutoff scores, thereby facilitating the early and accurate diagnosis of dementia and other cognitive disorders.
