Background: Verbal fluency (VF) tasks are usually employed to screen for cognitive decline. Letter (LF) and semantic (SF) VF were extensively used. Action VF (AF) was less explored, however it can be helpful to discriminate between clinical groups. Objective: 1.To characterize performance and strategies in VF in elderly individuals recruited in the community; 2.To obtain preliminary norms for AF. Methods: 121 community dwelling seniors (77.7% women, age (67.5±5.4) and schooling (11±4.4), recruited by convenience. After initial screening 65 fulfilled criteria for controls based on MOANS (G1) and 56 (G2) presented scores in the MMSE (27.4±2.1) compatible with cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND). We analysed the number of correctly evocated items as well as clustering and switching strategies. Results: 33% of the sample had scores in the MMSE compatible with CIND and among those, 25.6% presented GDS and GAI scores compatible with depression and anxiety. For both groups, scores were higher for SF, followed by AF and LF. The interaction between VF and Group was significant only for SF (P P<0.05), with lower scores for G2. For G1 and G2 the mean total scores for SF, LF and AF were respectively 16.5(± 4.6), 12.4(±5.3), 14.3(±5.7) and 13.6(±4.7) and 11.4(±3.7), 13.3(±6.3). Conclusion: SF was more impaired than LF and AF in community dwelling individuals with MMSE scores compatible with CDND.
Utilization of healthcare services among elderly with cognitive impairment no dementia and influence of depression and anxiety: a longitudinal study
