The S-TOFHLA as a Measure of Functional Literacy in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Maira Okada ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Nitrini, Ricardo ^{[1, 2]} ; Dozzi Brucki, Sonia Maria ^{[1, 2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Behav & Cognit Neurol Unit, BR-05410020 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Cognit Disorders Reference Ctr CEREDIC, BR-05410020 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Santa Marcelina Hosp, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY; v. 29, n. 3, p. 269-277, MAY 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In developing countries, education levels vary dramatically, and the number of years of schooling does not always correlate with the true level of educational competency. This study was designed to verify the accuracy of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), when compared with healthy controls (HCs), in order to assess its utility as a measure of functional literacy. One hundred forty-eight subjects were divided into three groups: HC (n = 61), MCI patients (n = 42), and AD patients (n = 45). The S-TOFHLA does not seem to be suitable as an instrument to measure functional literacy for patients with advanced cognitive impairment, but proved to be appropriate in both the HC group and MCI patients in numeracy and prove to be useful as an adjuvant to estimate IQ, reading ability, and premorbid IQ, as an indicator of cognitive reserve. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/06475-5 - The use of S-TOFHLA in patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's Disease as a functional literacy assessment
• Grantee: Maira Okada de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master