Funciones cognitivas y salud mental en personas mayores durante la pandemia por COVID-19, factores de riesgo y factores protectores: una revisión sistemática cualitativa / Review on the possible effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive function of older people

Risk and protective factors for cognitive impairment and mental health in older people are widely identified. However, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive functioning and neuropsychiatric symptoms in older people is not well known. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive functioning and mental health of older people, identifying risk and protective factors. We used the criteria and flowchart established in PRISMA statement, considering studies from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases between the years 2019 and 2021. The search fetched 55 final articles, where the analysis was carried out. The evidence suggests that the Covid 19 Pandemic had a direct and indirect impact on the cognitive function, mental and physical health of older people and variables such as resilience and personality characteristics moderated the consequences of this crisis.

Reserva cognitiva y demencias: Limitaciones del efecto protector en el envejecimiento y el deterioro cognitivo / Limited protective effects of cognitive reserve on the progression of cognitive impairment

Aging constitutes a series of physical, physiological and cognitive changes, affecting independence in the activities of daily living. During this stage, neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment are common. Cognitive Reserve allows to face neuropathological changes and maintain cognitive function in the presence of brain damage. However, there are cases where a high cognitive reserve fails to attenuate and delay the effects of neuropathology, allowing the progression of cognitive damage to advanced stages. The objective of this systematic review is to identify evidence where high cognitive reserve does not limit the effects of cognitive impairment. Results indicate that the protective effect of cognitive reserve occurs only in the presence of minimal cognitive impairment, but not at later stages.

Capacidad física y reserva cognitiva como factores protectores de las funciones atencionales en adultos mayores / Physical activity and cognitive reserve as protective factors for attentional functioning in older people

Background: Attention is considered a central control mechanism in cognitive processing systems. Attention deficits contribute to the symptomatic profile of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Physical exercise and cognitive reserve, could delay cognitive impairment and constitute a protective factor against clinical manifestations of AD. Aim: To relate the functionality of the attentional networks with physical activity and cognitive reserve. Material and Methods: Three groups of 20 older adults each (control, physical activity and with osteoarthritis) were studied. The Functional capacity assessment test, Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire and the Attention Networks Test - for Interactions and Vigilance or ANTI-V were applied to participants. Results: Significant differences were observed in the response times of the alert, orientation and executive network, and the percentage of success in the network orientation and executive network. No differences between groups were observed for the different indicators of vigilance. Conclusions: These results confirm the benefits of physical exercise as a protective factor for attentional functioning.