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. 2024 Nov 11:18:e20240156.
doi: 10.1590/1980-5764-DN-2024-0156. eCollection 2024.

Executive functions, mental health, and quality of life in healthy older adults

Cássia Elisa Rossetto Verga  1 , Gabriela Dos Santos  1 , Tiago Nascimento Ordonez  1 , Ana Paula Bagli Moreira  1 , Laydiane Alves Costa  1 , Luiz Carlos de Moraes  2 , Patrícia Lessa  2 , Neide Pereira Cardoso  2 , Gustavo Domingos França  2 , Ambrósio Ferri  2 , Beatriz Aparecida Ozello Gutierrez  1 , Henrique Salmazo da Silva  3 , Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki  4 , Thais Bento Lima da Silva  1   4
Affiliations

Executive functions, mental health, and quality of life in healthy older adults

Cássia Elisa Rossetto Verga et al. Dement Neuropsychol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Population aging brings about numerous challenges, particularly concerning cognitive health. In this context, socioeconomic factors such as education have received special attention due to their role in brain health.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the performance of executive functions, mental health variables, and quality of life among healthy older adults in relation to their level of education.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with participants aged 60 or older. The assessment protocol included Addenbrooke's cognitive examination and FAS, trail-making tests A and B, Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization, and Pleasure Scale (CASP-19), as well as the depression, anxiety, and stress scale.

Results: Significant differences were found in the performance of executive functions among older adults with higher levels of education. However, mental health and quality of life variables were only related to participants' age.

Conclusion: The study showed that mental health and quality of life are not influenced by participants' level of education but are instead strongly correlated with age.

O envelhecimento populacional traz consigo inúmeros desafios, especialmente no que diz respeito à saúde cognitiva. Nesse contexto, fatores socioeconômicos como a educação têm recebido atenção especial em razão do seu papel na saúde cerebral.

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever o desempenho das funções executivas, variáveis de saúde mental e qualidade de vida entre idosos saudáveis em relação ao seu nível de educação.

Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e transversal com participantes de 60 anos ou mais. O protocolo de avaliação incluiu o Exame Cognitivo de Addenbrooke e Teste de Fluência Verbal (FAS), Testes de Trilhas A e B, Escala de Controle, Autonomia, Autorrealização e Prazer (CASP-19), bem como a Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Estresse.

Resultados: Foram encontradas diferenças significativas no desempenho das funções executivas entre idosos com níveis mais elevados de educação. No entanto, variáveis de saúde mental e qualidade de vida estavam relacionadas apenas à idade dos participantes.

Conclusão: O estudo mostrou que a saúde mental e a qualidade de vida não são influenciadas pelo nível de educação dos participantes, mas sim fortemente correlacionadas com a idade.

Keywords: Cognitive Aging; Executive Function; Frail Elderly; Mental Health; Quality of Life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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