Analysis of clinical measurements of strength in elderly with mild neurocognitive disorder and Alzheimer's Disease in early stage

• Grant number: 16/13945-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal researcher: Larissa Pires de Andrade
• Grantee: Thayná de Souza Bueno
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Knowing that elderly people with cognitive impairment have decreased strength in the lower limbs and that the activity of sitting and standing is among the activities considered crucial for independence in the routine of the elderly, it is important the early identification of these changes through clinical trials. The investigation of the clinical trials associated with cutting-edge tools such as isokinetic dynamometer can contribute to help in the early diagnosis of these deficiencies in clinical practice as well as in the development of future interventions for older adults with cognitive impairment. The objectives of this study are: I) to analyze the correlation of measurements of muscle strength in the clinic in the elderly with cognitive impairment; II) observe the differences in strength performance among elderly cognitively preserved with neurocognitive disorder Mild and older diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the early stage. Therefore, there will be a cross-sectional study with a sample of 84 elderly aged over 65 years, 28 individuals in each group analyzed. The evaluation will consist of three tests for the assessment of strength: test sitting and standing chair for 30 seconds; test sitting and standing chair 5 times; muscle strength test for groups flexor and knee extensor through the peak torque generated using the isokinetic dynamometer. The dynamometer is characterized by being the gold standard in the analysis of muscle strength, its results will be used to check which test sitting and standing chair will have the highest correlation with cognitive impairment in the elderly. (AU)