Abstract

Cognitive performance among illiterates and low educational levels is poorer than that observed in individuals with greater schooling. This difference can be a confounding factor in reaching an accurate diagnosis of cognitive impairment. In addition, there is great heterogeneity in performance among illiterates, probably due to different environmental demands and sociocultural backgrounds. Many reports have described the influence of education on neuropsychological measures and screening tests such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).ObjectivesTo analyze performance in two samples with the same educational level, but different social and cultural backgrounds.MethodsSubjects from two different locations in Brazil (rural sample from Northern region and urban sample residing in the largest city of the Southeastern region) were matched for age and education, and submitted to the MMSE.ResultsSignificant differences between the groups were found in total scores on the MMSE and in temporal orientation and serial-sevens sub-items for which the urban sample performed best but analysis of illiterates alone yielded the same results, except for the copying pentagons task which was performed better by the rural sample.ConclusionsCultural and social backgrounds, as well as demands from the environment, influence results of screening tests. Factors other than education must be taken into account when analyzing tests.

Highlights

  • Cognitive performance among illiterates and low educational levels is poorer than that observed in individuals with greater schooling

  • Our results showed a statistically significant difference between the samples in total scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), temporal orientation and calculation, where subjects of São Paulo city performed better than those of Mamirauá

  • There was no significant difference in age, the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) sample was older and aging-related perceptual deficits could not explain this finding

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Summary

Introduction

Abstract – Cognitive performance among illiterates and low educational levels is poorer than that observed in individuals with greater schooling This difference can be a confounding factor in reaching an accurate diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Many reports have described the influence of education on neuropsychological measures and screening tests such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive performance among illiterates and low educational levels is poorer than that observed in individuals with greater schooling In Brazil, many reports have described the influence of education on neuropsychological measures Screening tests such as the Mini-Mental State Examination are influenced by schooling, with different cut-off scores. These authors concluded that low specificity led to the identification of many nondemented subjects with low educational status requiring further investigation

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