Tackling cultural barriers in cognitive assessment and early detection of dementias

• Grant number: 14/50203-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Agreement: University of Edinburgh
• Principal Investigator: Monica Sanches Yassuda
• Grantee: Monica Sanches Yassuda
• Principal researcher abroad: Mario Parra Rodriguez
• Institution abroad: University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/27096-8 - Cognitive aging: illiteracy, low education and possibilities of intervention, AP.R

Abstract

The Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology Group at the University of São Paulo and the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Group of the University of Edinburgh have recently set up a collaboration to investigate culturally unbiased cognitive markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is a key topic worldwide and particularly in Latin America countries where most of the cognitive assessment tools used have been adapted from devolved countries and may not reflect the actual cognitive challenges that local cultures pose on cognition. Towards this aim, we are planning to investigate, a novel cognitive task which has proved sensitive and specific to AD and not significantly influenced by demographic features of the affected populations. This test, namely Short-Term Memory Binding, assesses the ability to process, on a temporary basis, a combination of features such as shape and colours. Of note, this test has already been used in Latin American populations (Colombia) with demographic characteristic that are similar to those seen in Brazil (e.g., level of education, occupation, life expectancy). These earlier studies confirmed the validity of this test to assess such populations and to compare performance across cultures and nations. By means of the present collaboration we are planning to fully incorporate this methodology into our existing assessment protocols to maximise the strength of our diagnostic procedures. This will require a thorough exchange program between the involved parts wherein existing experience in the field will be shared. (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)

YASSUDA, MONICA SANCHES; CARTHERY-GOULART, MARIA TERESA; CECCHINI, MARIO AMORE; CASSIMIRO, LUCIANA; FERNANDES, KATARINA DUARTE; BARADEL, ROBERTA ROQUE; GARCIA, RICARDO BASSO; NITRINI, RICARDO; DELLA SALA, SERGIO; PARRA, MARIO ALFREDO. Free Recall of Bound Information Held in Short-Term Memory is Unimpaired by Age and Education. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, v. 35, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2020-03-01. (14/50203-8, 16/50197-3)

CECCHINI, MARIO AMORE; YASSUDA, MONICA SANCHES; BAHIA, VALERIA SANTORO; DE SOUZA, LEONARDO CRUZ; GUIMARAES, HENRIQUE CERQUEIRA; CARAMELLI, PAULO; CARTHERY-GOULART, MARIA TERESA; PATROCINIO, FLAVIA; FOSS, MARIA PAULA; TUMAS, VITOR; et al. Recalling feature bindings differentiates Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia. JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, v. 264, n. 10, p. 2162-2169, OCT 2017. (14/50203-8)