Abstract

SAMPER NOA, Juan Antonio et al. Age and schooling in subjects presenting with a slight cognitive deterioration. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2011, vol.40, n.3-4, pp. 203-210. ISSN 0138-6557.

Introduction: age is one of the more studied variables in patients presenting with memory and dementia disorders. Many papers show the protector effect of schooling. Objective: to determine the behavior of age and schooling in subjects presenting with a slight cognitive deterioration. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted including subjects aged ³ 50, assessed by its consecutive order in dementia consultation of "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Central and Military Hospital. The 46 included were distributed into two groups: 26 with slight cognitive deterioration and 20 without such deterioration. Results: the figure of patients with slight cognitive deterioration rose insofar as the cases had a great age. Those with a low schooling level (secondary school concluded or less) had 16.7 times more risk to present such affection than those with a high schooling level(middle or university). Conclusions: the existence of a direct relation between age and the schooling level to the presence of a slight cognitive deterioration.

Keywords : slight cognitive deterioration; Alzheimer's disease; schooling; age.