Autopercepção de queixas de linguagem e de memória em idosos com doença de Parkinson

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with an idiopathic cause. Cognitive decline is one of the impairments caused by Parkinson's, impairing memory, language and executive functions. Inducing questions about the perception of these symptoms in elderly people with Parkinson's disease. Objective: To investigate the self-perception of language and memory complaints in elderly people with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Quantitative, observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee. 17 participants were collected, for convenience, in a non-probabilistic way. The sample consisted of 9 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 68 years (±6.90). The data were obtained through a self-perception questionnaire prepared by the authors, containing 31 questions, divided into stages: language complaints and memory complaints. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially, using Fisher's exact test and Pearson's Correlation, reaching a significance level of 5%. Results: Regarding language issues, difficulties in writing texts and messages, difficulties in speaking, finding the right words to express, slow speech and speech blocks were highlighted. Difficulties with memory and remembering messages were indicated. The moderate correlation between language complaints and memory complaints stands out. Conclusion: Elderly people with Parkinson's disease present memory and language complaints. However, the data showed similar results to each other. The interface between the domains of language and memory was revealed.