PERFORMANCE IN COGNITIVE TESTS AND SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION OF THE MEMORY IN INDIVIDUALS FROM RECIFE-PE

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, there is a discussion about how subjective memory perception can predict performance in cognitive tests. Objective: To correlate the subjective perception of memory with performance in cognitive tests Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with 28 participants without cognitive complaints. People aged 40 years or more and at least four years of schooling were included. Participants were asked about their subjective perception of memory and then submitted to cognitive tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (v.23). Results: The population consisted of female individuals (89.3%), a mean age of 58.9 years (SD=±9.6), education of 11.9 years (SD=±4.4). As for the perception of memory, 53,5% of the individuals classified it as neutral, of which 7.1% had a score greater than or equal to 26 points in the MoCA, while 57.1% scored 24 or more in the MMSE. Also, 43,5% rated memory positively and, among them, 92.9% scored well on the MMSE, while only 28.7% had good performance on the MoCA. This self-assessment was correlated with MoCA performance (χ2=10.38; p=0.001). Conclusion: The subjective perception of memory was correlated with the performance of participants in the MoCA. Individuals with good perceptions had predominantly low performance on the tool.