OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to validate and normalize, in the French-speaking population of Switzerland, an empirically derived structured cognitive assessment scale for the elderly. METHOD: 237 healthy elderly and 115 elderly with mild-to-moderate dementia as well as a preliminary sample of 27 subjects with MCI, all community-dwelling, were assessed using the PECPA-L for its validation and normalization using Crohnbach's alpha, rank comparisons, and AUROC measures. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the PECPA-L was good (Crohnbach's Alpha=0.79). The discriminating power of the PECPA-L between the normal elderly and the mildly to moderately demented (AUROC=0.940) and those with MCI (AUROC=0.925) was high. Normal aging does not influence all cognitive domains equally; therefore, the subscores of the PECPA-L vary in their discriminating power between the normal and the demented elderly, with gnosis abilities having the least (AUROC=0.719) and delayed memory performance having the highest (AUROC=0.927) discriminating power. Normative data according to age and education are provided. CONCLUSIONS: The PECPA-L is a highly appropriate tool for the detection and documentation of early cognitive impairment in the French-speaking population in Switzerland while accounting for age and education. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel