RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study was designed to assess the differences in cognitive plasticity, cognitive functioning and quality of life (QoL) in young-old and old-old adults, and to determine whether variables related to QoL can predict cognitive plasticity in old age. METHODS: The study population consisted of 215 people living in sheltered accommodation for elderly people in southern Spain. Participants were divided into two groups according to age: young-old aged (between 65 and 80 years) and old-old (81 and above). Participants were assessed by means of cognitive performance tests, a QoL questionnaire, and the auditory verbal learning test-learning potential (AVLT-LP) as a measure of cognitive plasticity. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in cognitive plasticity between the young-old and old-old adults, although the former performed better on immediate and sustained verbal recall. Likewise, no significant inter-group differences arose in most of the QoL variables. However, differences in cognitive plasticity did appear as a function of the level of cognitive functioning of the old adults, and cognitive functioning has been shown to be the best predictor of cognitive plasticity in old age. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in cognitive plasticity between young-old and old-old adults only appear when the cognitive functioning of individuals is taken into account, rather than their age group. The variables cognitive functioning, social integration and education level appear to be the best predictors of cognitive plasticity in old age.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/psicologia , Cognição , Qualidade de Vida , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Cognição/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , EspanhaRESUMO
El envejecimiento poblacional ha condicionado que la mayorparte de la actividad profesional de numerosos tituladosde diferentes carreras se realice en personas ancianas.En su vertiente no intencional, el abandono del ancianocomo tipo de maltrato se puede deber a un conocimientoinadecuado (tal y como se define la impericia profesional).Por ello, la etapa de formación de la carrera reviste granimportancia en el cumplimiento de la misión universitaria.Así, todos los profesionales que desarrollen su actividadprofesional con mayores deben tener conocimientos en gerontologíaque les permitan obtener, en cada momento,los mejores resultados posibles. Metodología: análisis descriptivode los planes de estudio de las carreras de Enfermería,Medicina, Fisioterapia, Trabajo Social, TerapiaOcupacional y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte.Conclusiones: excepto en Enfermería y Terapia Ocupacional,el resto de titulaciones universitarias no ofertanasignaturas troncales relacionadas con el envejecimiento (AU)
Population aging has conditioned most of the professionalactivity of many graduates of different degrees, to be conductedin older people. In its unintended side, abandoningthe elderly, such as type of abuse, may be due to inadequateknowledge (defined as the professional skill), so the trainingstage of the race of great importance in meeting the universitymission. Thus, all the professionals who develop theirprofessional activity with older should have knowledge ingerontology to enable them to obtain at each moment thebest possible results. Methodology: descriptive analysis ofthe curricula of degree programs in Nursing, Medicine,Physiotherapy, Social Work, Occupational Therapy andScience of Physical Activity and Sport. Conclusions: exceptin Nursing and Occupational Therapy, the other universitydegrees offered no core subjects related to aging (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Envelhecimento , Saúde do Idoso , Geriatria/educação , Faculdades de Medicina/tendências , Avaliação Educacional , ImperíciaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: research into memory in geriatrics and gerontology has become increasingly important in recent years. However, various studies have shown that not all aspects or types of memory are affected in the same way or with the same severity by old age. OBJECTIVES: the present study aimed to establish differential profiles in objective and subjective memory associated with old age with a view to establishing criteria that could be used to distinguish between age-associated memory loss and pathological memory loss, thus aiding diagnosis of cognitive impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a total of 143 participants between 60 and 98 years of age were evaluated using a battery of tests comprising the validated Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination [Lobo's Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo (MEC)], diverse tests for objective memory [the auditory verbal learning test of learning potential (AVLT-LP) and a working memory test], and the subjective memory questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: significant differences were found between distinct age groups in different measures of subjective and objective memory. In general terms, persons who complained most about memory problems were not those with poorer performance on objective memory tests. The results show that measures of subjective and objective memory assess different aspects of memory.
