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Abstract
To analyze the cognitive strategies used in the verbal fluency test by healthy elderly without current risk of dementia. Method: Participants of the study were active elderly people, living in the countryside of the state of Sergipe, of both sexes. General identification data and health conditions were collected and the Mental State Mini Exam (MSME) and Verbal Fluency Semantics (VFS) test was applied. People with scores below the cut grade for schooling regarding the MSME were excluded from the survey. The results of these tests were analyzed qualitatively (normal or altered) and quantitatively (general score). In the VFS, the analysis was also performed according to the strategies used by the participant to recall the words (number of categories of animals cited, number of clusters performed (Clustering) and number of exchanges of cognitive strategy (Switching). The results were statistically analyzed by the Pearson correlation test. 33 elderly (25 females and 8 males) participated, with a mean age of 71.6 years old. The mean score in the MSME was 23.6 points and in the VFS it was 12.78 points, with a mean number of category used of 2.9, Clustering of 1.8 and Switching of 1.3. Pearson's correlation test identified important correlations between the VFS results and the number of the animals cited, Clustering and Switching categories used by the participants. Conclusion: Good general cognitive performance and language seems to be related to the cognitive strategies used in VFS, evidencing the importance of using this test in cognitive screening, even in cases of active elderly people.
Highlights
In recent years, several variables related to the maintenance of autonomy and independence of the elderly have been the focus of studies and actions regarding the prevention and treatment of health problems in this population (SOARES; DINIZ; CATTUZZO, 2013)
Some tests may be applied in order to perform a cognitive evaluation, among them, the Mental State Mini Examination (MSME) and the verbal fluency tests (VF)
The objective of the present work is to analyze the cognitive strategies used in the verbal fluency test by healthy elderly without current risk of dementia
Summary
Several variables related to the maintenance of autonomy and independence of the elderly have been the focus of studies and actions regarding the prevention and treatment of health problems in this population (SOARES; DINIZ; CATTUZZO, 2013). Some tests may be applied in order to perform a cognitive evaluation, among them, the Mental State Mini Examination (MSME) and the verbal fluency tests (VF). These tests can be applied individually, serving as a screening tool to identify cognitive deficits or to compose more complex and comprehensive test batteries (MORRIS; HEYMAN; MOHS, 1989; ROTH et al, 1986; ZAUDIG et al, 1991). It can be used clinically for the screening of cognitive alterations in the accompaniment of evolutionary diseases involving cognition and the monitoring of the results of the applied treatment (BRUCKI, et al, 2003; LOURENÇO; VERAS, 2006)
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