Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ()

Health Conditions and Memory Performance: a study with older adult women

  • Alice Milani Nespollo,
  • Samira Reschetti Marcon,
  • Nathalie Vilma Pollo de Lima,
  • Tatiane Lebre Dias,
  • Mariano Martínez Espinosa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0529
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 70, no. 3
pp. 640 – 646

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Objective: to verify the correlation between health condition and memory performance of older adult women in the community. Method: Analytical cross-sectional study developed with 28 older adult women living in Cuiabá-MT. They answered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and a shortened Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) to screen for dementia and depression symptoms. Memory skills were assessed through Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Results: The mean age was 66.36 years and 75% of the participants had educational level higher than 7 years. The MMSE mean score was 28.45. The correlations found were: educational level and immediate memory (r = 0.49; p = 0.008); delayed recall and immediate memory (r = 0.71; p < 0.001); memory recognition and immediate memory (r = 0.43; p = 0.021) and recognition memory with delayed recall (r = 0.47; p = 0.012). Conclusion: High scores in the MMSE and a satisfactory health perception among the participants were evident. There was no correlation between memory performance and health perception.

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