Some cognitive dimensions, such as attention, memory and executive functions, may decline with age, while other functions remain intact or even improve due to greater life experience. Objective: to analyze the relationship between cognitive processing, language and verbal fluency among elderly individuals seen by primary healthcare services located in a city in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: a cross-sectional study with a quantitative method was conducted. A total of 149 elderly individuals were assessed through previously scheduled interviews. Data collection included a questionnaire on sociodemographic data and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination - Revised (ACE-R). Cognitive processing (P300) was assessed using a device that captures potentials elicited in auditory tasks. Descriptive analysis and Spearman's correlation were performed with the level of significance established at 5%. Results: a negative correlation was found between language and P300 latency, while a positive correlation was found between verbal fluency and P300 amplitude. Comprehension and naming tasks showed a negative correlation with latency. The repetition task revealed a positive correlation with P300 amplitude. Conclusion: although more extensive testing is needed, these findings suggest that language correlates with P300 latency, whereas verbal fluency correlates with P300 amplitude.

Purpose: to identify psychosocial and functional factors associated with language and verbal fluency performance in older adults. Methods: a study conducted with 149 older adults registered in a primary health care service in a city in inland São Paulo. Instruments such as a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination-Revised (verbal fluency and language domains), Geriatric Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Medical Outcomes Study, WHOQOL-OLD, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, were used. Participants were divided into tertiles, according to their language and verbal fluency performance: T1 = best performance, T2 = median performance, and T3 = worst performance. Groups T1 and T3 were compared, and a binary regression was conducted to analyze the factors associated with the best language and verbal fluency performance. Results: higher educational attainment, higher income, and better functioning were the factors associated with the best language performance comparing T1 and T3, while higher educational attainment and better functioning were associated with the best verbal fluency. Conclusion: educational attainment and functioning proved to be important factors associated with good language and verbal fluency performance, while income was associated only with good language performance.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar fatores psicossociais e funcionais associados ao desempenho de idosos em linguagem e fluência verbal. Métodos: estudo realizado com 149 idosos cadastrados no serviço de atenção primária à saúde de uma cidade do interior de São Paulo. Foram utilizados um questionário de caracterização sociodemográfica, Exame Cognitivo de Addenbrooke - Revisado (domínios de fluência verbal e de linguagem), Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, Escala de Estresse Percebido, Medical Outcomes Study, WHOQOL-OLD e Escala de Atividades Instrumentais da Vida Diária. Os participantes foram divididos em tercis de acordo com o desempenho em linguagem e fluência verbal: T1 = melhor desempenho, T2 = desempenho mediano e T3 = pior desempenho. Foram comparados os grupos T1 e T3 e realizada uma regressão binária para analisar os fatores associados ao melhor desempenho em linguagem e fluência verbal. Resultados: as variáveis associadas ao melhor desempenho de linguagem comparando T1 e T3 foram: maior escolaridade, maior renda e melhor funcionalidade. Para a melhor fluência verbal, os fatores associados foram: maior escolaridade e melhor funcionalidade. Conclusão: a escolaridade e a funcionalidade mostraram-se importantes fatores associados ao bom desempenho da linguagem e da fluência verbal, enquanto a renda mostrou-se associada apenas ao bom desempenho de linguagem.

Purpose To check the association between a good performance of language and the recognition of facial emotional expressions in elderly individuals. Methods Transversal study performed with 118 elderly individuals from the primary care services of health of a city in the state of São Paulo. Sociodemographic data were collected, regarding the performance of language through the domain of Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination – Revised and Recognition of Facial Emotional Expressions. The sample was divided in thirds according to the performance of language: T1 = the best, T2 = average, and T3 = the worst. The groups T1xT3 were compared regarding the performance of recognition of facial expressions of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise, and for the intensities of 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. The association of independent variables over the performance of language was analyzed through logistic regression. The multivariate model was built from the results of the univariate analyses and has included the continuous variables by emotion and by intensity. Age and schooling associated to the performance of language in the univariate model were included in the multivariate model in order to adjust association analyses. Results The sample was mainly female (84.7%), with an average age of 70.5 years old, and 3.5 schooling years. The variables associated to the best performance of language in comparative analysis of T1 and T3 were: surprise (OR = 1.485, IC 95% 1.194 – 1.846), and disgust (OR = 1.143, IC 95% 1.005 – 1.300). Conclusion The recognition of facial emotional expressions of surprise and disgust were shown as important factors associated to the good performance of language.

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar a associação entre o bom desempenho de linguagem e o reconhecimento de expressões faciais de emoções em idosos. Método Estudo transversal realizado com 118 idosos dos serviços de atenção primária à saúde de um município paulista. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, de desempenho da linguagem pelo domínio do Exame Cognitivo de Addenbrooke - Revisado e de Reconhecimento de Expressões Faciais de Emoções. A amostra foi dividida em tercis de acordo com o desempenho na linguagem: T1 = melhor, T2 = mediano e T3 = pior. Os grupos T1xT3 foram comparados em relação ao desempenho no reconhecimento de expressões faciais de raiva, nojo, medo, alegria, tristeza e surpresa e para as intensidades 40%, 60%, 80% e 100%. A associação das variáveis independentes sobre o desempenho de linguagem foi analisada por meio de regressão logística. O modelo multivariado foi construído a partir dos resultados das análises univariadas e incluiu as variáveis contínuas por emoção e por intensidade. Idade e escolaridade, associadas ao desempenho de linguagem no modelo univariado, foram incluídas no modelo multivariado para ajustar as análises de associação. Resultados A amostra era predominantemente feminina (84,7%), com idade média de 70,5 anos e 3,5 anos de escolaridade. As variáveis associadas ao melhor desempenho de linguagem na análise comparativa de T1 e T3 foram: surpresa (OR= 1,485, IC 95% 1,194 – 1,846) e nojo (OR= 1,143, IC 95% 1,005 – 1,300). Conclusão O reconhecimento de expressões faciais das emoções surpresa e nojo mostraram-se importantes fatores associados ao bom desempenho da linguagem.