Factors associated with cognitive performance in elderly caregivers

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2018 Oct;76(10):685-691. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20180101.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the socioeconomic, demographic and psychosocial factors associated with cognitive performance in elderly caregivers from Brazil.

Methods: We evaluated 351 Brazilian elderly caregivers attending primary healthcare services regarding sociodemographic and care variables. Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) domains of orientation/attention, memory, verbal fluency, language and visuospatial were used as dependent variables in the Tobit model.

Results: Literacy and family income were positively associated with all ACE-R domains. Age, gender, time of care (days/week) were negatively associated with some cognitive domains. Moreover, receiving emotional help and the level of hope were positively associated with specific domains.

Discussion: The results may be useful for planning interventions aimed at elderly caregivers in order to prevent deficits in the different cognitive domains.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brazil
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Cognition Disorders / prevention & control
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Cognition* / classification
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hope
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Sex Distribution
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors