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. 2010 Apr-Jun;4(2):91-97.
doi: 10.1590/S1980-57642010DN40200003.

Episodic memory, concentrated attention and processing speed in aging: A comparative study of Brazilian age groups

Rochele Paz Fonseca  1 , Nicolle Zimmermann  2 , Lilian Cristine Scherer  3 , Maria Alice de Mattos Pimenta Parente  4 , Bernadette Ska  5
Affiliations

Episodic memory, concentrated attention and processing speed in aging: A comparative study of Brazilian age groups

Rochele Paz Fonseca et al. Dement Neuropsychol. 2010 Apr-Jun.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Neuropsychological studies on the processing of some specific cognitive functions throughout aging are essential for the understanding of human cognitive development from ages 19 to 89.

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the occurrence of differences in the processing of episodic memory, concentrated attention and speed of attentional processing among four age groups of adults.

Methods: A total of 136 neurologically healthy adults, aged 19-89, with 9 or more years of schooling, took part in the study. Participants were divided according to four age groups: young, middle-aged, elderly and oldest old adults. Subtests of the Brief Neuropsychological Evaluation Instrument (NEUPSILIN) were applied for the cognitive assessment. Mean score of corrected answers and of response times were compared between groups by means of a one-way ANOVA test with post-hoc Scheffe procedures and ANCOVA including the co-variables of years of schooling and socio-economical scores.

Results: In general, differences in performance were observed from 60 years old on. Only the episodic memory task of delayed recall reflected differences from the age of around 40 onwards and processing speed from around the age of 70 onwards. Thus, differences were found between the age groups regarding their cognitive performance, particularly between young adults and elderly adults, and young adults and oldest old adults.

Conclusions: Our research indicates that the middle-aged group should be better analyzed and that comparative cross-sectional studies including only extreme groups such as young and elderly adults are not sufficient.

Os estudos neuropsicológicos sobre o processamento de algumas funções cognitivas específicas no envelhecimento são essenciais para a compreensão do desenvolvimento humano na idade de 19 a 89 anos.

Objetivos: Esse estudo teve como objetivo verificar a ocorrência de diferenças no processamento da memória episódica, atenção concentrada e velocidade de processamento entre quatro grupos etários.

Métodos: Participaram desse estudo 136 adultos neurologicamente saudáveis de 19 a 89 anos, com 9 anos ou mais de escolaridade, divididos em quatro grupos etários: jovens, de idade intermediária, idosos e longevos. Subtestes do Instrumento de Avaliação Neuropsicológica Breve – NEUPSILIN foram utilizados para a avaliação cognitiva. A média dos escores e o tempo de resposta foram comparados entre os grupos através do teste one-way ANOVA, com o procedimento post-hoc Scheffe e uma ANCOVA com as co-variáveis anos de escolaridade e escore sócio-econômico.

Resultados: De maneira geral, foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos a partir dos 60 anos. Somente na tarefa de memória episódica tardia foram encontradas diferenças aproximadamente a partir dos 40 anos, e na velocidade de processamento, a partir dos 70 anos de idade. Dessa forma, houve diferenças entre os grupos no seu desempenho cognitivo, principalmente entre o grupo de adultos jovens e adultos idosos e adultos jovens e adultos longevos.

Conclusões: Os resultados demonstraram, ainda, que o grupo de adultos de idade intermediária deve ser mais bem investigado e, a partir disso, que estudos comparativos incluindo grupos de faixas etárias extremas não são suficientes.

Keywords: age effect; aging; attention; memory; neuropsychological tests.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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