ORIGINAL ARTICLE Normative values of the Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery in an Italian young adolescent population: the influence of age, gender, and education Fabrizia Falco 1 & Marcello Moccia 1 & Alessandro Chiodi 2 & Antonio Carotenuto 1 & Angelo D’Amelio 2 & Laura Rosa 3 & Kyrie Piscopo 3 & Andrea Falco 1 & Teresa Costabile 1 & Francesca Lauro 1 & Vincenzo Brescia Morra 1 & Roberta Lanzillo 1 Received: 3 August 2018 /Accepted: 9 January 2019 # Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia 2019 Abstract Aim The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB) is frequently used to estimate cognitive function in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), while it has been included in few studies on young MS, also because of the absence of normative values. We aim to evaluate the impact of age, gender, and education on BRB scores in a young adolescent population. Methods We administered the BRB to 76, 14-to-17-year-old, healthy subjects. Linear regression models were used to assess the impact of age, gender, and education on sub-test scores. When statistically significant (p < 0.05), we used the regression coefficient to correct the raw scores. Results Younger age was associated with better performance on SPART (β = - 2.54; p <0.05) and SPART-D (β = - 1.06; p < 0.05). Male gender was associated with better performance on SPART (β = 3.40; p < 0.05), SPART-D (β = 1.41; p < 0.05), PASAT-3 (β = 5.58; p < 0.05), and PASAT-2 (β = 5.07; p < 0.05). Educational attainments were associated with better perfor- mance on SPART (β = 3.23; p < 0.05) and SPART-D (β = 1.28; p < 0.05). Cut-off points were suggested at the 5th lowest percentile. Interpretation Age, gender, and education must be accounted for when applying the BRB to young population. Present results can prove useful for future clinical and research applications in adolescent MS patients. Keywords Multiple sclerosis . Cognitive . Cognition . Rao . Pediatric Introduction Five percent people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have disease onset before 18 years-old, mainly in adolescence [ 1]. Cognitive symptoms are quite common in juvenile-onset MS, ranging from 55% in patients without any psychiatric comorbidity, to 80% among those suffering from anxiety or mood disorder [1, 2]. Cognitive performances deteriorate over time in both adult and young MS patients, but progression is more heterogeneous in pediatric patients, when compared with adults, and is frequently not related to progression of physical disability [3, 4]. Some young MS patients present with higher potential for compensation and improvement over time, compared with others whose cognitive impairment will affect them in the long term [5]. A number of neuropsychological batteries have been used to assess cognitive function in pediatric age (e.g., developmental NEuroPSYchological assessment II and Brief Neuropsychological Battery for Children) [6, 7]. However, the main drawback is the lack of cut-off values in young population. Not least, the ideal neuropsycholog- ical battery should include reliable and reproducible tests, and should be used consistently during long-term follow- Fabrizia Falco and Marcello Moccia contributed equally as first authors. * Marcello Moccia moccia.marcello@gmail.com 1 Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini, 5 - Building 17, Ground floor, Naples, Italy 2 Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy 3 Active Inclusion and Student Participation Service, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy Neurological Sciences https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-3712-3