Socio-demographic factors affecting cognitive performance in older women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aims to establish a descriptive study about the cognition level and correlated socio-demographic variables, of the female sex, from the seventh to the nineth decade in two public services in the city of São Luís (MA). OBJECTIVES: Study about the cognition level with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and correlated socio-demographic variables, of the female sex, from the seventh to the nineth decade in two public services in the city of São Luís (MA). METHODS: During four months, a questionnaire with socio-demographic variables and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were applied in the patients attending. The voluntaries were evaluated in the Neurology clinics of the University Hospitals President Dutra and Statue Carlos Macieira. RESULTS: Eighty patients were evaluated - 31,2% were classified by MEEM with the cognitive troubles; 71,4% of these were between 81 and 85 years old. Cognitive disorder was present in 65% of the patients who had less education up to seven years. As for income and cognition level, it was observed that 30,4% of the volunteers who presented an income level lower than one to two minimum wage were classified with cognitive disturbances. From the 33 volunteers that had direct care, 57,6% presented cognitive disturbances. DISCUSSION: The study becomes relevant, because it allows to attempt to the problem in that region and it serves as a stimulus for the more complex methodological studies seeking to promote the elderly public mental health.