The aim of the study is to carry out a clinico-epidemiological study of the part of Barcelona's in-patients of 'Health-centers/Nursing-homes' elderly people that suffers from cognitive deterioration. 363 in-patients of 'Health-centers/Nursing homes' were studied. A specific questionnaire was used to collect the following data: Personal details, social and family situation, health profile and quantification of their degree of cognitive deterioration using Lobo's cognitive test. The quantitative and qualitative variables were studied statistically, and the arithmetical average and standard deviation were found, as well as which bivariant hypothesis tests and multivariant analyses, using the logistic regression method, were carried out. Adjusted degree of cognitive deterioration was 56%. The age, the fact that the patients were female, illiteracy and working as house-wives all made for low MEC ratings. Variables such as health, subjective memory loss, the presence of cerebral vascular pathology an hypercholesterolemia behaved in a similar fashion. Age, female sex, illiteracy and being a house-wife are associated with low scoring in the cognitive test, as well as subjective loss of memory, cerebral vascular pathology and hypercholesterolemia. The multivariant analyses are affected by: age and length of schooling. Were the in-patient group is concerned, functional remodelling of specific areas is indicated, and who have to be taken into care as a result of the seriousness of deterioration their dependence and their need for assistance.