Cognitive aging: neuropsychological instruments and cognitive training

• Grant number: 07/00110-0
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 2007 - November 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Principal researcher: Monica Sanches Yassuda
• Grantee: Monica Sanches Yassuda
• Home Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Significant changes in cognition occur as humans age, such as in memory, attention and executive functions (Yassuda & Abreu, 2006). In Brazil, it is a particular challenge to distinguish normal from pathological cognitive aging, due to the limited number of studies about neuropsychological instruments involving older adults, who can have very different educational experiences. This challenge needs to be addressed because the identification of pathological change may lead to early intervention. Earlier studies (Ball et al., 2002)document that older adults benefit from cognitive training, however, this field is yet to be explored in Brazil. This study aims at evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test and at extending earlier research on cognitive training with Brazilian older adults. The objective is to test the effectiveness of longer training protocols (6 and 8 sessions) in older adults with lower education and older adults with mild cognitive impairment, diabetes and high blood pressure. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SOARES, LETICIA MARIA; CACHIONI, MEIRE; DA SILVA FALCAO, DEUSIVANIA VIEIRA; TAVARES BATISTONI, SAMILA SATLER; LOPES, ANDREA; NERI, ANITA LIBERALESSO; YASSUDA, MONICA SANCHES. Determinants of cognitive performance among community dwelling older adults in an impoverished sub-district of Sao Paulo in Brazil. ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS, v. 54, n. 2, p. E187-E192, MAR-APR 2012. Web of Science Citations: 5.

YASSUDA, MONICA SANCHES; FLAKS, MARIANA KNEESE; VIOLA, LUCIANE FATIMA; PEREIRA, FERNANDA SPEGGIORIN; MEMORIA, CLAUDIA MAIA; NUNES, PAULA VILLELA; FORLENZA, ORESTES VICENTE. Psychometric characteristics of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) as an early detection instrument for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in Brazil. INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS, v. 22, n. 6, SI, p. 1003-1011, SEP 2010. Web of Science Citations: 17.

DA SILVA‚ H.S.; YASSUDA‚ M.S. Memory training for older adults with low education: mental images versus categorization. EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY, v. 35, n. 10, p. 890-905, 2009.