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Publication
Relação entre elementos potencialmente tóxicos e o desempenho cognitivo de adultos e idosos
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Introdução: Elementos Potencialmente Tóxicos (EPT) são elementos que produzem toxicidade
dependendo das suas concentrações e que podem levar ao desenvolvimento de doenças
neurodegenerativas. O envelhecimento é uma etapa da vida em que existe uma maior
probabilidade de défice cognitivo e condições de demência. Porém, existe escassez na literatura
de estudos que se debrucem sobre a relação entre os EPT e a cognição, especialmente na
população adulta e idosa. O presente estudo focou-se na população da Ilha do Sal devido à
poluição ambiental de origem vulcânica que altera o teor dos EPT.
Objetivo: Avaliar a relação dos níveis de EPT não essenciais e o desempenho cognitivo nos
residentes da Ilha do Sal (Cabo Verde) e determinar o valor dos EPT não essenciais como
preditor do desempenho cognitivo.
Método: Quarenta e oito participantes (n = 48) com cinquenta ou mais anos foram recrutados
voluntariamente e selecionados após a entrevista e aplicação da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica
(GDS-30). O desempenho cognitivo foi avaliado através das seguintes medidas cognitivas:
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Montreal
Cognitive Assessment Memory Index Score (MoCA-MIS), Teste do Desenho do Relógio (TDR)
e Código da WAIS-III. As amostras da urina e do sangue total foram recolhidas por um
enfermeiro e as concentrações de EPT não essenciais foram medidas na Espectrometria de
Massa por Plasma Indutivamente Acoplado (ICP-MS).
Resultados: Os residentes da Ilha do Sal demostraram uma relação positiva entre elevados
níveis de rubídio (Rb) na urina (β = 0.253; t = 2.153; p = 0.037) e no sangue total (β = 0.363; t
= 2.638; p = 0.012) e altas pontuações no MoCA e TDR respetivamente; e uma relação negativa
entre elevados níveis de níquel (Ni) no sangue total (β = - 0.305; t = - 2.629; p = 0.012) e baixas
pontuações no MoCA.
Conclusões: Os resultados evidenciaram que níveis mais elevados de Ni no organismo estão
associados a piores desempenhos cognitivos, enquanto níveis mais elevados de Rb estão
associados a melhores desempenhos nos adultos e idosos cabo-verdianos residentes na Ilha do
Sal.
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) are elements that produce toxicity depending on their concentrations and that can lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Aging is a stage of life in which there is a greater likelihood of cognitive decline and dementia conditions. However, there is a lack of studies in the literature that focus on the relationship between PTE and cognition, especially in the adult and elderly population. The present study focused on the population of Salt Island due to environmental pollution of volcanic origin that alters the PTE content. Objective: Assess the relationship between non-essential PTE levels and cognitive performance in residents of the Salt Island (Cape Verde) and to determine the value of non-essential PTE as a predictor of cognitive performance. Method: Forty-eight participants (n = 48) aged fifty or over were recruited voluntarily and selected after an interview and application of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). The cognitive performance was assessed using the following cognitive measures: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Memory Index Score (MoCA-MIS), Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Coding. The urine and whole blood samples were collected by a nurse and non-essential PTE concentrations were measured on the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Residents of the Salt Island showed a positive relationship between high levels of rubidium (Rb) in urine (β = 0.253; t = 2.153; p = 0.037) and whole blood (β = 0.363; t = 2.638; p = 0.012) and high scores on the MoCA and CDT respectively; and a negative relationship between high levels of nickel (Ni) in the whole blood (β = - 0.305; t = - 2.629; p = 0.012) and low scores on the MoCA. Conclusions: The results show that higher levels of Ni in the body are associated with poorer cognitive performance, while higher levels of Rb are associated with better performance in the adults and elderly Cape Verdeans living on the Salt Island.
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) are elements that produce toxicity depending on their concentrations and that can lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Aging is a stage of life in which there is a greater likelihood of cognitive decline and dementia conditions. However, there is a lack of studies in the literature that focus on the relationship between PTE and cognition, especially in the adult and elderly population. The present study focused on the population of Salt Island due to environmental pollution of volcanic origin that alters the PTE content. Objective: Assess the relationship between non-essential PTE levels and cognitive performance in residents of the Salt Island (Cape Verde) and to determine the value of non-essential PTE as a predictor of cognitive performance. Method: Forty-eight participants (n = 48) aged fifty or over were recruited voluntarily and selected after an interview and application of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). The cognitive performance was assessed using the following cognitive measures: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Memory Index Score (MoCA-MIS), Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Coding. The urine and whole blood samples were collected by a nurse and non-essential PTE concentrations were measured on the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Residents of the Salt Island showed a positive relationship between high levels of rubidium (Rb) in urine (β = 0.253; t = 2.153; p = 0.037) and whole blood (β = 0.363; t = 2.638; p = 0.012) and high scores on the MoCA and CDT respectively; and a negative relationship between high levels of nickel (Ni) in the whole blood (β = - 0.305; t = - 2.629; p = 0.012) and low scores on the MoCA. Conclusions: The results show that higher levels of Ni in the body are associated with poorer cognitive performance, while higher levels of Rb are associated with better performance in the adults and elderly Cape Verdeans living on the Salt Island.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no
ISPA – Instituto Universitário para
obtenção de grau de Mestre na
especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.
Keywords
Elementos potencialmente tóxicos Desempenho cognitivo Elementos não essenciais Exposição ambiental Potentially toxic elements Cognitive performance Non-essential elements Environmental exposure