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O impacto da depressão no desempenho cognitivo em idosos
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Vários estudos têm avaliado o efeito da depressão no desempenho cognitivo na população idosa. Contudo, o que se verifica é um foco generalizado na avaliação da memória destes pacientes, em detrimento de outros mecanismos cognitivos como a atenção, velocidade de processamento e funções executivas. A fim de contribuir para o aprofundamento desta temática, o presente estudo objetivou averiguar o impacto da depressão no desempenho cognitivo em idosos, explorando diferenças ao nível não só da memória e das funções executivas, como também da atenção, velocidade de processamento e fluência verbal. Para o efeito, foram avaliados 60 idosos (30 do sexo masculino e 30 do sexo feminino), dos quais 30 tinham depressão e 30 não tinham, recorrendo-se a vários testes de avaliação neuropsicológica. Os principais resultados apontam para uma correlação negativa entre a sintomatologia depressiva e as diferentes medidas de desempenho cognitivo utilizadas, observando-se correlações mais fortes nos testes da memória e de atenção. Além disso, percebeu-se que idosos com depressão apresentam menor desempenho cognitivo nas funções executivas, na memória, na atenção e velocidade de processamento e na fluência verbal, sendo estas diferenças de magnitude elevada. Relativamente a diferenças entre sexos, detetou-se uma vantagem significativa das mulheres nas áreas das funções executivas e da fluência verbal. Os resultados são comparados com outros disponíveis na literatura, sendo em grande parte corroborados por estes.
Several studies have evaluated the effect of depression on cognitive performance in the elderly population. However, what happens is a widespread focus on memory assessment of these patients, to the detriment of other cognitive mechanisms such as attention, processing speed and executive functions. In order to contribute to the deepening of this theme, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of depression on cognitive performance in the elderly, exploring differences not only in memory and executive functions, but also in attention, processing speed and verbal fluency. For this purpose, 60 elderly (30 males and 30 females) were evaluated, of which 30 had depression and 30 did not, using various neuropsychological assessment measures. The main results point to a negative correlation between depression and all cognitive performance tests, with stronger correlations in memory and attention tests. In addition, it was noticed that elderly with depression have lower cognitive performance in executive functions, memory, attention and processing speed and verbal fluency, and these differences, besides being significant, are of high magnitude. Regarding gender differences, a significant advantage was found for women in the areas of executive functions and verbal fluency. The results are compared with others available in the literature, being largely corroborated by these.
Several studies have evaluated the effect of depression on cognitive performance in the elderly population. However, what happens is a widespread focus on memory assessment of these patients, to the detriment of other cognitive mechanisms such as attention, processing speed and executive functions. In order to contribute to the deepening of this theme, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of depression on cognitive performance in the elderly, exploring differences not only in memory and executive functions, but also in attention, processing speed and verbal fluency. For this purpose, 60 elderly (30 males and 30 females) were evaluated, of which 30 had depression and 30 did not, using various neuropsychological assessment measures. The main results point to a negative correlation between depression and all cognitive performance tests, with stronger correlations in memory and attention tests. In addition, it was noticed that elderly with depression have lower cognitive performance in executive functions, memory, attention and processing speed and verbal fluency, and these differences, besides being significant, are of high magnitude. Regarding gender differences, a significant advantage was found for women in the areas of executive functions and verbal fluency. The results are compared with others available in the literature, being largely corroborated by these.
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Keywords
Envelhecimento Depressão Desempenho cognitivo Funções executivas Memória Atenção Velocidade de processamento Fluência verbal