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Comparison of cognitive functions among frail and prefrail older adults: a clinical perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2018

Bárbara Bispo da Silva Alves ,
Elizabete de Oliveira Barbosa ,
Daniel de Moraes Pimentel ,
Lara S. F. Carneiro ,
Ana Carolina M. A. Rodrigues ,
Andréa Camaz Deslandes ,
Mariana Rocha Alves ,
Vinícius Dias Rodrigues ,
Ester Liberato Pereira  and
Alfredo Maurício Batista de Paula
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Bárbara Bispo da Silva Alves
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elizabete de Oliveira Barbosa
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Daniel de Moraes Pimentel
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Lara S. F. Carneiro
Affiliation:
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Carolina M. A. Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Andréa Camaz Deslandes
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mariana Rocha Alves
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil Post Graduation Program of Medicine (Neurology – Neuroscience), Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Vinícius Dias Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil Post Graduation Program of Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ester Liberato Pereira
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Alfredo Maurício Batista de Paula
Affiliation:
Post Graduation Program of Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Camila Castelo Branco Pupe
Affiliation:
Post Graduation Program of Medicine (Neurology – Neuroscience), Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior*
Affiliation:
Research and Study Group of Neuroscience, Exercise, Health and Sport, Physical Education Department of State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Post Graduation Program of Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil Post Graduation Program of Medicine (Neurology – Neuroscience), Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior, Campus Universitário Professor Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Av. Rui Barbosa, 126, Vila Mauricéia, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. Phone: +55-38-32298291. Email: monteirojuniorms@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Objective:

To compare cognitive function among frail and prefrail older adults.

Design:

Cross-sectional clinical study.

Participants:

Fifty-one non-institutionalized older individuals participated in this study.

Measurements:

Cognitive functions were evaluated through Mini-Mental State Examination (Global Cognition), Digit Span Forward (short-term memory), Digit Span Backward (working memory), Verbal Fluency Test (semantic memory/executive function). Data were compared using parametric and non-parametric bivariate tests. Binary logistic regression was used to test a frailty prediction model. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.01 to compare groups. In the regression model, the p value was set to be ≤0.05.

Results:

Statistically significant differences were observed in global cognition, and short-term memory between frail and prefrail individuals (p ≤ 0.01). Global cognition explained 14–19% of frailty's model.

Conclusion:

According to our findings, the evaluation of cognitive functions among older persons with frailty and prefrailty provides important complementary information to better manage frailty and its progression.

Keywords

cognitive assessmentdementiaaging

Information

Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 2: Issue Theme: Positive Psychiatry II , February 2019 , pp. 297 - 301
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

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