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M D Calero

Publications and source records attributed to M D Calero.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Validity of the Cognitive Mini-Exam of Lobo et al. for the detection of dementia-associated cognitive deterioration] .

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Mini-Examination Cognitive (MEC) of Lobo et al is widely used as a screening tool for dementia in epidemiological studies and in clinical context for the rapid evaluation of cases in whom there is a suspicion of cognitive deterioriation due to dementia. Nevertheless, the validity analysis in old people have not been accomplished. The objective of this study has been to validate the use of this instrument to detect cognitive deterioration associated with dementia in elderly people. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-five old people have participated, one group of patients of a Neurology Service and another group of healthy old people. All of them have been evaluated through a neuropsychological exploration protocol and the MEC. RESULTS: The results show a high validity of this test for the evaluation of the cognitive deterioration in this population, as in the correlation with the neurological tests used as in the ANOVA intergroups (with and without deterioration) executed; they also reflect the influence on the puntuations of variables such as the age and the educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The utility of this procedure for the Spanish population with a low cultural level and the necessity of working with different criteria depending on the age and the educational level of the patients evaluated is shown here.

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Training effects on intelligence of older persons.

In the present study, we tried to answer two main questions: (1) do the elderly of low educational level improve their performance in ability tests when they are trained in inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, or everyday problem solving? (2) If such training were effective, what will the level of training transfer be? Ninety elderly participated in this study (36 women, 54 men; mean age = 67.87); 93.2% of them had less than 4 years of education. The study was based on an experimental-control group design with three main parts: pre-test, cognitive training (three training conditions - Inductive Reasoning, Spatial Orientation and Everyday Problem Solving vs. placebo control) and two post-tests with 3 months of interval. The results indicate that the elderly of low educational level improve their performance both in the domain and transfer test in two of the three training conditions: inductive reasoning and spatial orientation. Results are discussed in relation to other topics related to research studies.

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A self-training program in inductive reasoning for low-education elderly: tutor-guided training vs. self-training.

The main aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a self-training program in inductive reasoning run for elderly with low levels of education. Two different training settings were considered, i.e. tutor-guided training and self-training, to ascertain whether results obtained in both settings would be similar. A total of 25 subjects took part in this study (average age = 68.266, range = 60-85 years), all volunteers and residents of the city of Granada. A quasi-experimental design was used with random assignment to either training setting. The design was applied in four stages: pre-test, cognitive training (tutor-guided vs. self-trained inductive reasoning), post-test immediately after training and follow-up at 3 months. Results show considerable gains in inductive reasoning training both in tutor-guided and self-trained groups.

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PubMedDate not supplied

[Position test: an instrument for measuring the cognitive plasticity in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment].

INTRODUCTION: The search for variables that mediate in the shift from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia is currently a very active field of research. In this area, the term cognitive plasticity or modifiability can be of great interest. Proof of the existence of plasticity in the elderly with MCI and its possible value as an indicator of the shift from this condition to dementia have aroused an interest in investigating evaluation tools that enable the evaluation of plasticity in old age. AIMS. In this study we assess the validity of the position test (PT) as a measure of cognitive plasticity in the elderly and we examine its existence in people with MCI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 117 elderly subjects were evaluated with the Spanish version of the MMSE (Minimental State Examination) as a screening test for cognitive impairment, the AVLT LP (Auditory Verbal Learning Test Learning Potential), a test that is frequently used to evaluate plasticity, and the PT. RESULTS: Findings show that the PT evaluates cognitive plasticity in the elderly suffering from MCI, that it is possible to shorten the test without losing its evaluative properties and that performance in the test is not affected by educational level. Furthermore, it also reveals the fact that some elderly people with MCI show plasticity. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allow us to state that the PT is ideal for evaluating plasticity in the elderly, and we also recommend further research into plasticity and its possible relation with the cognitive progress of people with MCI.

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