Interaction between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Modified Baecke Questionnaire for the Elderly (Baecke): the sex differences

• Grant number: 20/08285-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2020
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Angelina Zanesco
• Grantee: Vinícius Lúcio de Barros
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES). Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) on arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are well established. On the other hand, it is not clear whether PA prevents Alzheimer's disease or even mitigate its progression. Some studies pointed out that the beneficial effects of this type of intervention on cognitive function are indirect by decreasing some risk factors such as hyperglycemia or high blood pressure. Epidemiological studies have shown that women are more affected by Alzheimer's disease than men, about 16 and 11%, respectively. Conversely, recent studies found no significant differences between men and women in the proportion who develop Alzheimer's disease at any given age. In parallel, women are more physically inactive (35%) than men (28%). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of PA on cognitive function measured by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). We will further investigate whether there were sex differences. Three-hundred and fifty elderly will be examined according to the inclusion criteria, e65 years old, preserved activities of the daily living, no severe cognitive impairment and the practicing of PA for at least one year. In order to characterize the level of PA of the participants, the Modified Baecke questionnaire for the elderly will be applied. According to Baecke scores, the sample will be divided into two groups, scores <9 was defined as subjects physically inactive and scores >9 and <14 as physically active. The MMSE will be employed to characterize global cognitive status, reference values will be applied according to education status, as previously described. The software Graphpad Prisma will be used for statistical analysis. P<0.05 will be accepted as significant. (AU)