Análise funcional e de equilíbrio postural de idosos com provável doença de alzheimer em fase grave: uma série de casos

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fast-rising dementia syndrome that most affects the world population, being a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative pathology that causes the deterioration of intellectual, functional, and motor faculties, such as postural balance. Objective: To analyze the clinical-cognitive, functional, and postural balance data in the older adult in the severe phase of Alzheimer's Disease. Method: This is an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study with seven older adults aged 60 years or over and staging at CDR3 at the State Reference Center for Older adult Health Care (CREASI) Natal / RN. The instruments used were: Mini Mental Health Status Examination (MMSE); Clock design test (TDR); Verbal Fluency Test (TFV), Timed-Up-and-Go Test (TUGt), Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB), and the Functional Activities Questionnaire. The data were interpreted using a simple descriptive analysis. Results: There was a functional loss for IADL; prolonged mobility time; cognitive impairment, including language; and abnormal postural balance conditions. Conclusion: The results show that older adults with AD in the severe phase have greater functional dependence to the detriment of cognitive changes, mobility, and postural balance.