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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Introdução: A funcionalidade diz respeito à capacidade de os indivíduos realizarem as
suas actividades da vida diária de forma segura e independente. As funções executivas
correspondem a processos cognitivos que permitem orientar o comportamento, responder
de forma adaptativa e alcançar objetivos. A memória é a capacidade de adquirir,
armazenar e recuperar informações aprendidas. O declínio destas duas funções cognitivas
pode prejudicar a funcionalidade. Com a presente investigação pretendeu-se estudar a
relação entre as funções executivas e memória com o desempenho funcional em idosos
saudáveis, bem como, estudar a aplicabilidade da UPSA (Universidade da Califórnia, San
Diego, Performance-Based Skills Assessment) na avaliação do desempenho funcional.
Metodologia: Numa amostra de conveniência foram incluídos 50 participantes com
idades compreendidas entre os 61 e os 92 anos. As funções executivas e a memória foram
avaliadas com provas neuropsicológicas, a funcionalidade foi avaliada com uma medida
indirecta (autorrelato) e com uma medida directa baseada no desempenho dos
participantes (UPSA).
Resultados: Os resultados suportam as hipóteses de estudo, uma vez que, existe uma
relação entre as funções executivas e o desempenho funcional, contudo apenas o Digit
Span e a Fluência Verbal Fonológica se revelaram preditores significativos do
desempenho funcional, ao contrário de estudos anteriores. A memória apenas se
correlacionou com as aptidões financeiras. O desempenho dos participantes na UPSA
variou em função da idade e das condições de residência e a UPSA parece apresentar uma
utilidade superior a escalas de autorrelato na avaliação da funcionalidade.
Conclusões: A memória de trabalho e a iniciativa verbal revelaram ser preditoras
significativas do desempenho funcional, demonstrando-se assim que a capacidade de os
indivíduos monitorizarem e codificarem a informação, bem como, manterem essa
informação na memória de trabalho é essencial para um desempenho funcional eficaz nos
idosos saudáveis.
Introduction: Functionality refers to the ability of individuals to perform their basic and instrumental activities of daily living safely and independently. Executive functions correspond to cognitive processes that allow behavioral orientation, adaptive response and achieve proposed goals. Memory is an ability to acquire, store and retrieve learned information. The decline of both cognitive functions may impair functionality. In this sense, the present study aimed to study a relationship between executive functions and memory with functional performance in healthy elderly, as well, study the applicability of UPSA (University of California, San Diego, Performance-Based Skills Assessment) in the assessment of functional performance. Methodology: In a convenience sample were included 50 participants with age comprehended between 61 and 92 years old. Executive functions and memory were assessed with neuropsychological measures, functionality was assessed with an indirect measure (self-report) and a with a direct measurement based on participant performance (UPSA). Results: The results support the study hypothesis, since there is a relationship between executive functions and functional performance, however, only Digit Span and Phonological Verbal Fluency proved to be significant predictors of functional performance, contrary to previous studies. Memory only correlated with financial management. Participant performance at UPSA varied with age and residence conditions, and UPSA appears to have superior utility to self-reporting scales in assessing functionality. Conclusions: Working memory and verbal initiative proved to be significant predictors of functional performance, thus demonstrating that subject´s ability to monitor and encode information, as well as maintaining this information in working memory, is essential for everyday function in healthy older adults.
Introduction: Functionality refers to the ability of individuals to perform their basic and instrumental activities of daily living safely and independently. Executive functions correspond to cognitive processes that allow behavioral orientation, adaptive response and achieve proposed goals. Memory is an ability to acquire, store and retrieve learned information. The decline of both cognitive functions may impair functionality. In this sense, the present study aimed to study a relationship between executive functions and memory with functional performance in healthy elderly, as well, study the applicability of UPSA (University of California, San Diego, Performance-Based Skills Assessment) in the assessment of functional performance. Methodology: In a convenience sample were included 50 participants with age comprehended between 61 and 92 years old. Executive functions and memory were assessed with neuropsychological measures, functionality was assessed with an indirect measure (self-report) and a with a direct measurement based on participant performance (UPSA). Results: The results support the study hypothesis, since there is a relationship between executive functions and functional performance, however, only Digit Span and Phonological Verbal Fluency proved to be significant predictors of functional performance, contrary to previous studies. Memory only correlated with financial management. Participant performance at UPSA varied with age and residence conditions, and UPSA appears to have superior utility to self-reporting scales in assessing functionality. Conclusions: Working memory and verbal initiative proved to be significant predictors of functional performance, thus demonstrating that subject´s ability to monitor and encode information, as well as maintaining this information in working memory, is essential for everyday function in healthy older adults.
Description
Keywords
Funções executivas Memória Funcionalidade UPSA Envelhecimento saudável Executive functions Memory Functionality Healthy aging