Funcionamiento neuropsicológico y emocional en el envejecimientoEstudio comparativo entre ancianos institucionalizados y no-institucionalizados

Abstract

Introduction: There is little research that explores the role of institutionalization in the neuropsychological and emotional functioning in the elderly. The literature seems to point and emphasize that one of the relevant factors for cognitive / dementia decline is the fact that the elderly are living under social response. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the institutionalization variable on memory, language and executive functioning and also in depressive and anxiety symptoms, controlling the effect of sociodemographic variables (gender, age, education, occupation and marital status). Methodology: We evaluated 682 elderly patients with an average age of 79.00 years (SD = 8.14), divided into two groups that included institutionalized elderly subjects (n = 540, 79.2%) and older non-institutionalized active subjects (n = 142 , 20.8%) using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Rey Complex Figure (RCF), Verbal Fluency Test (phonemic, FVF; Semantic FVS), Frontal Assessment Batery (FAB), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). Analyzes of covariance were used as statistical methodology. Results: Regardless of the fact that some of the sociodemographic variables may have an effect on neuropsychological functioning and contribute to the institutionalization of the elderly, by controlling its effect, institutionalizing itself has an impact on memory, language and executive functioning, as well as in depressive and anxious symptoms . Discussion / Conclusion: The results follow the literature regarding the negative impact of institutionalization in the elderly, both on a cognitive level and an emotional level, regardless of the factors that surround it.