COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PEOPLE AGED 50 YEARS AND OVER: A MULTI-DESIGN STUDY
Older adults; Aging; Cognitive impairment; Latent classes.
Introduction: The process of population aging is an uneven phenomenon
mediated by historical genetic and socioeconomic factors. One of the main
features of aging is the occurrence of cognitive changes, which may
potentiate other dysfunctions associated with senescence and frailty.
However, the clinical presentation of cognitive alterations is not uniform
among individuals experiencing the aging process, revealing its multifactorial
nature. Objective: To investigate cognitive function in Brazilian adults aged 50
years and older using multiple methodological designs, identifying interrelated
factors associated with objective cognitive decline and latent clusters of
subjective cognitive decline, as well as estimating their effects on clinical
outcomes. Methods: A hybrid methodological approach will be adopted,
encompassing a cross-sectional epidemiological design and a prospective
cohort. The cross-sectional design will identify potential latent groups based
on clinical-functional, social, and psychobehavioral variables. In addition, it
will estimate the multilevel association of macrosocial variables with the
clustering of individuals. The prospective cohort design will be useful for
estimating the likelihood of latent groups developing cognitive impairment,
hospitalization, falls, and death over a 24-month period. Expected Results:
This research is expected to generate evidence to support more personalized
clinical decision-making and public health policies, enabling the early
identification of heterogeneously distributed cognitive impairments.