Table 1 Demographic and behavioural data.

Demographics

Age (years old)

72 ± 7

73 ± 11

U = 721.5, P = 0.355^a

Sex (male/female)

15/7

20/7

χ² = 0.206, P = 0.650^b

Cognition

OCS total score

94.06 ± 4.69

77.17 ± 15.68

U = 469, P < 0.001^a

Composite %: attention, memory and executive function¹⁰⁴

Language tests

NBT total score

271.00 ± 4.16

228.58 ± 57.75

U = 408.5, P < 0.001^a

Participants were asked to describe a series of images in one word each¹⁰⁵

CAT-NL semantic

(n. of words)

22.32 ± 6.30

12.85 ± 7.09

U = 468, P < 0.001^a

Within cognitive subtests of CAT-NL⁴⁸. Participants were asked to pronounce words within a certain semantic category (animals) within one minute

CAT-NL phonologic

(n. of words)

13.14 ± 5.18

8.44 ± 6.07

U = 547, P = 0.010^a

Within cognitive subtests of CAT-NL⁴⁸. Participants were asked to pronounce words starting with a certain letter within one minute

ScreeLing total score

69.86 ± 2.51

62.11 ± 9.43

U = 479, P < 0.001^a

Three parts with each four different tasks, covering semantics, phonology and syntax (El Hachioui et al., 2012)