ObjectiveTo describe the performance on basic cognitive tasks, instrumental activities
of daily living, and depressive symptoms of a community-based sample of
elderly adults in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) who participated in multiple
physical, social, and cognitive activities at government-run community
centers.MethodsA total of 264 educated older adults (> 60 years of age of both genders)
were evaluated by the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), Lawton's and
Pfeffer's activities of daily living indexes, and the Geriatric Depressive
Scale (GDS).ResultsThe mean age of the sample was 75.7 years. The participants had a mean of 9.3
years of formal education. With the exception of the Clock Drawing Test
(CDT), mean scores on the cognitive tests were consistent with the values in
the literature. Only 6.4% of the sample had some kind of dependence for
activities of daily living. The results of the Geriatric Depression Scale
(GDS-15) indicated mild symptoms of depression in 16.8% of the sampleConclusionThis study provided important demographic, cognitive, and functional
characteristics of a specific community-based sample of elderly adults in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.