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Health Conditions and Memory Performance: a study with older adult women

Condiciones de la salud y del desempeño de la memoria: un estudio con mujeres mayores

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to verify the correlation between health condition and memory performance of older adult women in the community.

Method:

Analytical cross-sectional study developed with 28 older adult women living in Cuiabá-MT. They answered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and a shortened Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) to screen for dementia and depression symptoms. Memory skills were assessed through Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT).

Results:

The mean age was 66.36 years and 75% of the participants had educational level higher than 7 years. The MMSE mean score was 28.45. The correlations found were: educational level and immediate memory (r = 0.49; p = 0.008); delayed recall and immediate memory (r = 0.71; p < 0.001); memory recognition and immediate memory (r = 0.43; p = 0.021) and recognition memory with delayed recall (r = 0.47; p = 0.012).

Conclusion:

High scores in the MMSE and a satisfactory health perception among the participants were evident. There was no correlation between memory performance and health perception.

Descriptors:
Aged; Cognition; Memory; Neuropsychological Tests; Health Condition

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