A relação entre a reserva cognitiva, o estado cognitivo e a funcionalidade numa população de sujeitos muito idosos

Abstract

Theoretical Background: The older elderly or “Oldest Old” represent a rapidly growing age group in several countries around the world. This perspective will have a significant impact on health, economy and society as a whole. Although studies on the cognitive performance of this group are not following the accelerated pace of their aging, we know that cognitive decline is a phenomenon that accompanies aging even in the absence of a neurological disease. The Cognitive Reserve (CR) model holds that individual differences in cognitive processing level and neural compensation capacity mean that some people can deal better with aging than others. The Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq) proposes to measure the Cognitive Reserve (CR) in an objective way using three of the domains used in the reserve’s conceptualization: education level, professional occupation and leisure activities. Functionality is the result of an individual's performance in several activities that compose the occupation of meaning and/or need for each individual. This study aimed to explore the CRIq contribution towards CR and the relationship between CR, cognitive mechanisms of aging and functionality in a sample of 85+ years old individuals. Methodology: The convenience sample of this transverse study was composed by 28 older adults, 85-101 year old individuals and with no relevant personal background. After a brief clinical interview, the CRIq was applied, along with the Vocabulary, the Digit-Symbol, the Digit Span, the Stroop and the FAB test. Aiming to test the hypothesis assumed, Pearson correlation coefficient test, Spearman and linear regressions test were also used. Results: From all the cognitive performance measures, only Stroop score correlated (negatively) with Cognitive Reserve. Vocabulary and FAB are the strongest correlated measures with CRIq. As expected for the Vocabulary since it is a supplementary and substitute test of the education measure recommended with CRIq application. Although we found correlations between cognitive aspects and Cognitive Reserve, we did not find correlations between CR and functionality, so we can conclude that CR does not influence the AVDs decline. Conclusion: The CRIq seems to be a useful and valid tool to assess CR. The results obtained from this study reinforce the importance of several factors as promoters of health and cognitive functioning, from which all different aspects of an individual’s life can contribute to a better resilience to the negative effects of aging, and reinforces the necessary importance of including the “Oldest Old” subjects in future studies.

Date of Award	6 Oct 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Vânia Silva Nunes (Supervisor) & Raquel Lemos (Co-Supervisor)