O efeito protetor da reserva cognitiva na memória prospetiva no envelhecimento normal

Abstract

Theoretical Background: Prospective Memory (PM) refers to memory for future intentions. The assessment of the this type of memory is considered useful in early screening of dementia, once it’s decline is more notorious in the elderly, being associated with cognitive abilities that deteriorate with the process of senescence (self initiated behavior) and therefore prejudice the autonomy of individuals in their execution of daily living activities. The Cognitive Reserve (CR), on the other hand, is considered protective of the incidence of dementia and the cognitive decline present in normal aging, since it refers to the optimization of performance in tasks by the use of cognitive strategies and recruitment of alternative neural networks obtained by the accumulation of lifelong personal experiences and intellectual challenges. Therefore, in this study the main goal is to assess the protective effect of CR on PM, and possibly strengthen its protective factor. On the same line of thought, this study also intended to confirm an association between PM and Social Relations in the participants, since social contact is related to low mortality and low mental and physical deterioration. Method: The sampling procedure resulted in a convenience sample composed of 46 healthy subjects between the ages of 65 and 84 years. The assessment protocol included the Memory for Intentions Test (MIST), Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq) and Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). Results: The results supported the idea that there is a positive correlation between the CRIq and the performance of MIST as well on the time-based tasks. A multiple linear regression showed that of the three proxies in the CRIq, the occupation was the one that better explained the good performance on MIST. The results also showed a correlation between Social Relations and the CRIq, as opposed to MIST. Discussion: The absence of the effect of Social Relations on the performance of MIST, might be due to the type of methodology used in this study, being this effect possibly observed in naturalistic studies. However, the results showed enhance the idea that CR not only has a protective effect on pathologies eminent in aging but also on cognitive decline resulted from the process of senescence, therefore helping to maintain high levels of functionality among the elderly, namely the maintenance of PM and self initiated behavior (time-based tasks). Through the analysis of the different proxies in the CRIq, is shown that the CR is a capacity that we gain with the accumulation of experiences and its protective effect is associated with the years of professional occupation and its level of exigency, comparatively with education and participation in social activities.

Date of Award	20 May 2016
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Vânia Silva Nunes (Supervisor) & Filipa Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)