Comparison of cognitive functions among frail and prefrail older adults: a clinical perspective

• Published in: International psychogeriatrics Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 297 - 301
• Main Authors: da Silva Alves, Bárbara Bispo, de Oliveira Barbosa, Elizabete, de Moraes Pimentel, Daniel, Carneiro, Lara S. F., Rodrigues, Ana Carolina M. A., Deslandes, Andréa Camaz, Alves, Mariana Rocha, Rodrigues, Vinícius Dias, Pereira, Ester Liberato, de Paula, Alfredo Maurício Batista, Pupe, Camila Castelo Branco, Monteiro-Junior, Renato Sobral
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animal cognition; Brazil; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognitive ability; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; Disease Progression; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Institutionalization; Logistic Models; Male; Memory; Mental Status Schedule; Mini-Mental State Examination; Older people; Semantics; Studies; Writing; Brazil; dementia; cognitive assessment; aging
• ISSN: 1041-6102; 1741-203X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610218000765

ABSTRACTObjective:To compare cognitive function among frail and prefrail older adults. Cross-sectional clinical study. Fifty-one non-institutionalized older individuals participated in this study. Cognitive functions were evaluated through Mini-Mental State Examination (Global Cognition), Digit Span Forward (short-term memory), Digit Span Backward (working memory), Verbal Fluency Test (semantic memory/executive function). Data were compared using parametric and non-parametric bivariate tests. Binary logistic regression was used to test a frailty prediction model. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.01 to compare groups. In the regression model, the p value was set to be ≤0.05. Statistically significant differences were observed in global cognition, and short-term memory between frail and prefrail individuals (p ≤ 0.01). Global cognition explained 14-19% of frailty's model. According to our findings, the evaluation of cognitive functions among older persons with frailty and prefrailty provides important complementary information to better manage frailty and its progression.