How does cognitive impairment affect in the ability in older people?

Abstract

Aging has always been associated with a decline, both cognitively and functionally. Age is considered a fundamental factor in cognitive deterioration, but psychosocial characteristics such as the level of studies have also been related in numerous investigations. This study attempts to demonstrate the relationship between the degree of cognitive impairment and functioning as well as the psychosocial characteristics that can affect and the perception that users have about their decline. The sample consisted of 31 people, between 67 and 101 years old, drawn from a group of users of the Day Center of the Red Cross of Castellón. Subjects in this center were classified by groups (after being evaluated psychologically) depending on the degree of cognitive impairment. They were administered several neuropsychological tests in which an attempt was made to relate the degree of cognitive deterioration (MINIMENTAL) with functionality; BECAD (Learning and application of what has been learned) and WHODAS 2.0 (own perception). In addition, the psychosocial factors (age and studies) and the differences that were depending on the group to which they were assigned in the center were studied. The corresponding statistical analyzes (correlations, cross tables, etc.) were carried out using the IBM SPSS. The results obtained were the following; First, it was observed that the level of study was not related to the degree of cognitive impairment. However, age was related in a negative way (the older, the greater the cognitive deterioration). In addition, significant differences were obtained depending on the group in which they were organized in the center. On the other hand, it was observed that users had little perception about themselves about their disability. Finally, it was shown that cognitive impairment is related in a very significant way to the ability to learn and autonomy of what has been learned.

Envejecer siempre ha estado asociado a un declive, tanto a nivel cognitivo como funcional. La edad se considera un factor fundamental en el deterioro cognitivo, pero características psicosociales como el nivel de estudios, también se han visto relacionadas en numerosas investigaciones. Con este estudio se intenta demostrar la relación entre el grado de deterioro cognitivo y el funcionamiento así como las características psicosociales que pueden afectar y la percepción que tienen los propios usuarios acerca de su declive. La muestra estaba formada por 31 personas, entre 67 y 101 años, extraída de un grupo de usuarios del Centro de Dia de la Cruz Roja de Castellón. Los sujetos en dicho centro estaban clasificados por grupos (tras ser valorarlos psicológicamente) dependiendo del grado de deterioro cognitivo. Se les administraron varias pruebas neuropsicológicas en las que se intentó relacionar el grado de deterioro cognitivo (MINIMENTAL) con la funcionalidad; BECAD (Aprendizaje y aplicación de lo aprendido) y WHODAS 2.0 (percepción propia). Además, se estudiaron los factores psicosociales (edad y estudios) y las diferencias que había dependiendo del grupo al que estaban asignados en el centro. Mediante el IBM SPSS se realizaron los análisis estadísticos correspondientes (correlaciones, tablas cruzadas, etc.). Los resultados obtenidos fueron los siguientes; primer lugar, se observó que el nivel de estudio no estaba relacionado con el grado de deterioro cognitivo. Sin embargo, la edad sí que estaba relacionada de una manera negativa (a mayor edad, mayor deterioro cognitivo). Además, se obtuvieron diferencias significativas dependiendo del grupo en los que estaban organizados en el centro. Por otra parte, se observó que los usuarios tenían poca percepción sobre ellos mismos acerca de su discapacidad. Finalmente, se demostró que el deterioro cognitivo sí está relacionado de una manera muy significativa con la capacidad de aprendizaje y autonomía de lo aprendido.