Applicability of the new version of the Direct Assessment of Functional Status - Revised (DAFS-R (BR)) in Elderly Individuals with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder

• Grant number: 25/02277-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Maria Pires Camargo Novelli
• Grantee: Sara Tomé Fonoff
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: In the field of aging, there is a lack of studies on the use and application of ecological and direct assessments. The DAFS-R (BR) was readapted and needs to be applied to understand whether its use is effective. Objective: To assess the understanding and comprehension of the items of the DAFS-R (BR) that were readapted for Brazilian culture and the applicability of this instrument for elderly individuals with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (MND). Methods: Participants in the study will be invited through an invitation extended to elderly individuals from the Universidade Aberta para as Pessoas Idosas (Uapi/BS) and the Serviço de Atendimento ao Envelhecimento Cognitivo (SAEC). Three assessment instruments will be applied: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the3Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), and the Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised (DAFS-R (BR)). The study will be conducted in two phases: Phase 1: a pre-test of the DAFS-R (BR) (n=15), and Phase 2: the application of this instrument to evaluate its applicability (n=30). Approximately 30 elderly people will be assessed, divided into two groups (SCD (n=15) and MND (n=15)), based on their ACE-R score. Analyses will be performed on the understanding and comprehension of the new items, along with descriptive analyses of the sociodemographic profile and functional capacity within the groups. Hypothesis: At the end of the research, we will provide the DAFS-R (BR) readapted for Brazilian culture for future studies, with the content validity process finalized.Keywords: cognitive impairment, elderly, occupational therapy (AU)