Transversality neuropsychology and mental health: assessment and intervention with the elderly

Mental health of the elderly: a study with practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activities

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is a process predicted during human development. In late adulthood, the emergence of senility is characteristic, especially with regard to signs/symptoms of cognitive decline. Development in health allows for an increase in the quality of life of elderly people through the practice of physical activities. Objective: to evaluate cognitive aspects of elderly people, those who practice and do not practice physical activities. Methods: this is a quasi-experimental, ex post facto study, with a convenience sample. The results were obtained from the instruments: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Pictorial Memory Test (TEPIC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Sociodemographic Questionnaire. The analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS 21. Results: 202 elderly people participated, aged between 60 and 95 years (M = 68.82; SD = 6.27), the majority of whom were female (n = 142). In the cognitive assessment, with the MMSE instrument, an average of 22.7 points (SD = 3.4) was obtained, suggesting a deficit in the cognitive categories assessed. The TEPIC indicated an average of 5.24 points (SD = 3.1), suggesting difficulty in retrieving visual information. As for the BDI, the average was 13.4 points (SD = 10.41), indicating mild symptoms of Depression. In the assessment of the practice of physical activities, eight were reported, the most frequent: walking (63.6%). Those who practice physical activities had lower scores for depressive symptoms. Conclusion: practicing physical activities contributes to the mental health of elderly people, especially in relation to the preservation of cognitive aspects.