Poster Presentations

Session Title: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) including Non-Cognitive Aspects
Presentation Date: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, March 15, 2009

FUNCTIONAL DECLINE CONCOMITANT TO MENTAL STATUS STABILITY IN A 12-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF BRAZILIAN HEALTHY ELDERLY

C. Godinho¹, M.O. Cerveira¹, A.L. Camozzato¹, J. Kaye², M.L. Chaves^1
1HCPA, Neurology, Porto Alegre, Brazil, ²OHSU, Neurology, Portland, United States

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the performance on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the functional status in a community-based cohort of well-functioning elderly from the South Brazil and the interaction of the changes on MMSE scores and functional status with other socio-demographic variables.
Methods: These data come from a 12-year follow-up. At baseline the individuals were healthy and independent, and aged ≥60 years. The MMSE, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, demographic data, clinical and psychiatric information, social support, engagement to leisure activities, and independence for daily living activities were evaluated in the follow-up. Only those who were kept alive and non-demented with at least three thoroughly assessments were evaluated.
Results: A statistically significant decrease on functional status was observed while the MMSE scores showed clinical stability. No interaction was found between the sociodemographic variables and MMSE along time of observation. A statistically significant interaction between functional status evolution and MMSE baseline scores (p = 0.009) was observed, individuals with MMSE below cutoff showed greater decline of the functional status.
Conclusions: The 12-year follow-up mental and functional status in highly functioning elderly showed functional decline concomitant to stability of the MMSE scores.