Cognitive decline and depression in elderly people institutionalized and non-institutionalized: possibilities of correlation

• Grant number: 12/05051-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Edvaldo Soares
• Grantee: Aline Murari Ferraz Carlomanho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The improvement of living conditions of the general population has resulted in a significant increase of the elderly population. Several studies have detailed the theme of the cognitive decline (CD) in this population, indicating a set of variables that, alone or in combination, can affect cognitive ability in that population. Among the variables considered, such as changes in social parameters, decline of functional capacity, pathologies of the various orders, medication, among others, highlight to institutionalization and/or depression as variables that deserve attention. Objectives: To conduct a comparative study of cognitive decline (DC), with emphasis on memory function in institutionalized elderly and non-institutionalized and searching for possible correlations, from statistical analysis, between DC and: a) depression; (b) general health status and c) cognitive stimulation. Methods and procedures: will be the research subjects 60 elderly, of which 30 institutionalized elderly and 30 non-institutionalized elderly. The collection and recording of data will be made from the application of the following instruments: (1) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) 2) Beck Depression Inventory 3) An instrument for assessment of general state of health 4) Medical records of subjects. This study will be performed from epidemiological method, with quantitative and qualitative approach. (AU)