Depressive symptoms as a prognostic factor to cognitive changes in elderly in the community: a longitudinal study

• Grant number: 21/10597-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Hotta Ansai
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Simões Pereira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/08945-3 - Effects of palliative care interventions for people with dementia on the health of caregivers and possibilities of implementing these services, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Among the most widespread diseases and involvement in the age group of 60 years or more, there is depression. Although the harmful effects on cognitive functions caused by this chronic disease are recognized, it is not known for sure whether depressive symptoms can cause cognitive declines over time, in order to alter the cognitive status of the elderly without initial dementia. Objective: to analyze the prevalence of depressive symptoms in elderly people without a diagnosis of dementia; Check whether depressive symptoms can predict changes in cognitive functions and cognitive status after 32 months in elderly people without initial dementia. Method: This is a longitudinal prospective and quantitative research, consisting of two evaluation moments (m1=initial; m2=after 32 months). A previously collected database belonging to the Research Group National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq will be used. Initially, specific assessments will be used to screen mood (Geriatric Depression Scale - GDS), anamnesis, and functionality (Pfeffer Scale). Cognitive assessment will be used in the two evaluation moments, using the Cognitive Examination of Addenbrooke-revised version (ACE-R), Frontal Assessment Battery (BAF), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) instruments. For the analyses, a significance level of ± = 0.05 will be adopted and for the execution of the statistical tests, the SPSS software (22.0) will be used.(AU)