Epidemiological profile of an elderly population sample from São Carlos - SP

• Grant number: 13/23157-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Regina Cominetti
• Grantee: Julian Pierre Coelho
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aging process is accompanied by a decline in some cognitive abilities, although in most cases these losses do not progress to dementia. Dementias are chronic diseases of aging, characterized by the decline of cognitive functions. The prevalence of dementia in individuals aged over 65 years is around 6.12%. It is estimated that around 60% of all dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline, loss of memory, and progressive impairment in the ability to perform activities of daily living. The objective of this project is to identify the epidemiological and socioeconomic conditions of a population sample from São Carlos/SP that presents subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment and dementia, through the use of different cognitive instruments. Screening for disease and cognitive decline in this sample will be conducted through the following instruments: Memory Complaint Questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination, Memory Complaint Questionnaire and Economic Classification Criterion Brazil. This project is part of a larger study entitled "From memory complaint with dementia: an epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aiming at the investigation of biomarkers and changes in intracranial pressure in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease", which is being coordinated by Prof. Dr. Francisco de Assis Carvalho do Vale, from the Department of Medicine, UFSCar, in partnership with our research group, from the Department of Gerontology, UFSCar. (AU)