Progression to degenerative dementia in mild cognitive impairment patients: a cohort study

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a controversial clinical entity, conceptualized as a transitional zone between normal aging and dementia. Socio-demographic and genetic factors have been involved in the development of cognitive impairment and its progression to dementia. The aim of the present study is to describe the rate of conversion to dementia in a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment.Method: Design Prospective cohort. Setting: A cohort of subjects with MCI was assessed and followed for three years (2013-2015) in a private institution dedicated to neurology. Participants: Patients with cognitive complaints over 60 years old who consulted spontaneously and met the MCI criteria without commitment in activities of daily living, were included consecutively and followed up annually for 3 years. Variables: Dementia and MCI were defined according to DSM IV criteria. Statistical methods we describe conversion rate as a proportion with confidence interval (CI) 95%. Bivariate analysis was performed between dementia and sociodemographic predictors and Odds Ratio and CI was calculatedResults: We include 82 subjects with MCI (age: 76.6±6.9 years, 67% women, education: 11.5±3.7 years) 4 participants were lost to follow-up. The conversion rate to dementia was 14.1% (CI95% 7.7 to 23.2) In the bivariate analysis we compared the median baseline IQ of the patients who developed dementia (97; IQR 89-103) and those who did not (93; IQR 85-95) and we obtained a significant difference with a p = 0.040Conclusions: The conversion rate to dementia in this Latin American population is coincident with studies conducted in other populations. A larger sample size is required to establish the possible predictors of conversion to dementia.Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a controversial clinical entity, conceptualized as a transitional zone between normal aging and dementia. Socio-demographic and genetic factors have been involved in the development of cognitive impairment and its progression to dementia. The aim of the present study is to describe the rate of conversion to dementia in a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment.Method: Design Prospective cohort. Setting: A cohort of subjects with MCI was assessed and followed for three years (2013-2015) in a private institution dedicated to neurology. Participants: Patients with cognitive complaints over 60 years old who consulted spontaneously and met the MCI criteria without commitment in activities of daily living, were included consecutively and followed up annually for 3 years. Variables: Dementia and MCI were defined according to DSM IV criteria. Statistical methods we describe conversion rate as a proportion with confidence interval (CI) 95%. Bivariate analysis was performed between dementia and sociodemographic predictors and Odds Ratio and CI was calculatedResults: We include 82 subjects with MCI (age: 76.6±6.9 years, 67% women, education: 11.5±3.7 years) 4 participants were lost to follow-up. The conversion rate to dementia was 14.1% (CI95% 7.7 to 23.2) In the bivariate analysis we compared the median baseline IQ of the patients who developed dementia (97; IQR 89-103) and those who did not (93; IQR 85-95) and we obtained a significant difference with a p = 0.040Conclusions: The conversion rate to dementia in this Latin American population is coincident with studies conducted in other populations. A larger sample size is required to establish the possible predictors of conversion to dementia.Fil: Feldberg, Carolina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Feldberg, Carolina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Tartaglini, Maria Florencia. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tartaglini, Maria Florencia. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, Paula Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, Paula Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Caruso, Diego. Hospital General de Agudos Cesar Milstein; ArgentinaFil: Caruso, Diego. Hospital General de Agudos Cesar Milstein; ArgentinaFil: Somale, María Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Somale, María Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaAlzheimer´s Association International ConferenceLos AngelesEstados UnidosAlzheimer´s AssociationAlzheimer´s Associatio

A influência da educação e da complexidade laboral no desempenho cognitivo de idosos com comprometimento cognitivo leve

The objective of this paper is to assess the relative importance of education and occupational complexity to determine the cognitive performance on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). 80 patients with MCI were assessed using the following instruments: questionnaire of sociodemogrhapical data, questionnaire on attainment of occupation, and an extended neuropsychological battery. Abilities tested were: logical memory (Signoret Memory Battery, TAVEC), attention (Digit span, TMTA), language (Vocabulary WAIS III, Boston Naming Test, Verbal Fluency), executive functions (TMTB, Analogies WAIS III, Matrix reasoning WAIS III) and visuoconstruction (Block design WAIS III). Results show that occupational complexity is more relevant than education for cognition of vocabulary, to achieve cognitive flexibility and to obtain visuoconstructive abilities. Education is more important for abstract reasoning and sustained attention. Occupational complexity and education have a unique and important role in the maintenance of cognitive abilities, working as buffers for cognitive impairment during aging.El presente estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el peso relativo de la educación y la complejidad laboral en la determinación del rendimiento cognitivo de sujetos con deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL). Fueron evaluados 80 sujetos con DCL, con los siguientes instrumentos: cuestionario de datos demográficos y sociales, cuestionario de agenciamiento de la actividad laboral y una batería neuropsicológica ampliada: memoria (Memoria lógica Signoret Batería, TAVEC), atención (Digit span, TMTA), lenguaje (Vocabulario WAISIII, Test de denominación de Boston, fluidez verbal), funciones ejecutivas (TMTB, analogías WAIS III, razonamiento matricial WAISIII) y construcción visual (cubos WAISIII). Los resultados muestran que la complejidad laboral tiene un peso mayor que la educación en la cognición como son el vocabulario, la flexibilidad cognitiva y las habilidades visuoconstructivas. La educación, tiene mayor peso en el razonamiento abstracto y la atención sostenida. La complejidad ocupacional y la educación desempeñan un papel diferencial e importante en el mantenimiento de las capacidades cognitivas, siendo factores amortiguadores del deterioro cognitivo en el envejecimiento.O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o peso relativo da educação e da complexidade laboral na determinação do desempenho cognitivo de sujeitos com comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL). Foram avaliados 80 sujeitos com CCL, com os seguintes instrumentos: questionário de dados demográficos e sociais, questionário de direcionamento da atividade laboral e uma bateria neuropsicológica ampliada: memória (Memória lógica Signoret Bateria, TAVEC), atenção (Digit span, TMTA), linguagem (Vocabulário WAIS III, Teste de denominação de Boston, fluência verbal), funções executivas (TMTB, analogias WAIS III, raciocínio matricial WAIS III) e construção visual (cubos WAIS III). Os resultados mostram que a complexidade laboral tem um peso maior que a educação na cognição, como no vocabulário, na flexibilidade cognitiva e nas habilidades visual-construtivas. A educação tem mais peso no raciocínio abstrato e na atenção sustentada. A complexidade ocupacional e a educação desempenham um papel diferencial e importante na manutenção das habilidades cognitivas, sendo fatores que amenizam o declínio cognitivo no envelhecimento

Actualizaciones en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del deterioro cognitivo vascular

Introducción: Los trastornos cognitivos de causa vascular representan un grupo de entidades de gran heterogeneidad etiológica y clínica. Objetivo: Revisar las últimas evidencias en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del deterioro cognitivo vascular. Desarrollo: Los conceptos de deterioro cognitivo leve vascular y demencia vascular engloban las consecuencias del daño cerebral a punto de partida vascular sobre las funciones cognitivas y conductuales. La actualización de sus criterios diagnósticos, con la incorporación a los mismos de biomarcadores y test genéticos para patologías concomitantes como la enfermedad de Alzheimer, posibilitará el desarrollo de nuevos estudios epidemiológicos y terapéuticos. En su tratamiento se deben tener presentes el control de los factores de riesgo, las terapias de rehabilitación, la prevención secundaria y el manejo farmacológico sintomático. Dentro de los fármacos disponibles existen recomendaciones basadas en estudios de tipo IIa y nivel de evidencia de grado A para la utilización del Donepecilo en pacientes con demencia vascular y de la Galantamina en demencias de causa mixta. Conclusiones: La detección precoz y el diagnóstico y tratamiento adecuados de los cuadros de deterioro cognitivo vascular pueden mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes afectados. La acción médica más relevante en este tipo de cuadros debe ser la dirigida a la prevención.Introduction: The term vascular cognitive impairment refers to a clinical and etiological heterogeneous group of entities that may appear as a result of brain lesions caused by vascular disease. Aim: To update the evidence and recommendations on the diagnosis and management of vascular cognitive impairment. Results: vascular mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia are entities that capture the entire spectrum of cognitive impairment following stroke or subclinical vascular brain injury. The recent update on the diagnostic criteria of these entities, with the incorporation of biomarkers and genetic tests for concomitant disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, may lead to the development of new epidemiological and therapeutics studies. Different aspects should be considered in the management of these entities: control of vascular risk factors, inclusion in rehabilitation programs, secondary prevention and symptomatic pharmacological therapy. Donepezil can be useful for cognitive enhancement in patients with vascular dementia (Class IIa; Level of Evidence A) and Galantamine can be beneficial for patients with mixed Alzheimer’s disease/vascular dementia (Class IIa; Level of Evidence A). Conclusions: Early detection and accurate diagnosis and management of vascular cognitive impairment can benefit the quality of life of the affected patients. Prevention is still the best medical strategy in cerebrovascular disorders.Fil: Demey, Ignacio. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Somale, Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Translation and validation of the Questionnaire on Agency of the Labor Activity in Argentine subjects

Introducción :Aunque las personas dedican gran parte de sus vidas al trabajo, el conocimiento actual respecto de la relación entre la ocupación laboral y el desempeño cognitivo es limitado. Objetivo En ausencia de instrumentos que evalúen la trayectoria laboral desde una perspectiva psicosocial, se presenta la traducción al español del Occupational Self-Direction Questionnaire y su adaptación al medio local, y estudios psicométricos de la versión española final: Cuestionario sobre Agenciamiento de la Actividad Laboral (CAAL). Sujetos Ciento doce adultos, de diferente género, nivel socioeconómico medio y residentes en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, República Argentina. Métodos La traducción del inglés al español fue efectuada según el método de traducción transcultural y la elección de los traductores, según los criterios de Sánchez y Echeverry. Se administraron un cuestionario de datos generales y el CAAL, y se efectuaron estudios de evidencia de validez aparente, de contenido por criterios de sujetos-jueces, de criterio, y de confiabilidad por test-retest. Resultados Se obtuvo la versión española CAAL y, además de su validez aparente, se establecieron la evidencia de validez de contenido (Aiken > 0,80) y de criterio (complejidad: «r» entre 0,76 y 0,88), y la confiabilidad («r» entre 0.84 y 0.99) del instrumento. Conclusiones El CAAL resulta una herramienta útil, de fácil aplicación y evaluación, adaptada al medio local y con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para ser utilizada en estudios no experimentales sobre fenómenos sociales en relación con la salud. En particular, sobre el «papel»’ de la ocupación laboral como factor neuroprotector de la cognición en la vejez.Introduction :Although people dedicate most of their lives to work, the real knowledge about the relation that the labor activity developed has with the cognition performance is limited. Objective In absence of instruments that study the labor path from a psychosocial point of view, attached can be found the translations into Spanish of the “Occupational Self-Direction Questionnaire” adapted to the local environment and psychometric studies of the final Spanish version of the “Questionnaire on Agency of the Labor Activity” (CAAL, according to its acronym in Spanish.) Subjects 112 adults of different genders, middle socio-economic status and residents of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were assessed. Methods The translation into Spanish was made according to the method of transcultural translation. Translators were chosen according to Sánchez and Echeverry criterion. Two questionnaires were administered: one to obtain general information and the CAAL. Several studies of evidence of face validity were performed: content by criteria subject-judge, of criteria, and of trust using the test-retest method. Results The Spanish version of the CAAL was obtained and, apart from its face validity, the content validity was established (Aiken > 0.80) and of criteria (complexity: “r” between 0.76 and 0.88) and trust (“r” between 0.84 y 0.99) of the instrument. Conclusions The CAAL has shown to be a useful tool of easy administration and analysis, adapted to the local environment and with proper psychometric characteristics to be used in non-experimental studies on social phenomenon in relation to health; specially, on the “role” of labor activity as a neuro-protector for cognition in the old age.Fil: Feldberg, Carolina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Somale, Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; Argentin

Geriatric depression and alexithymia in family caregivers of patient with dementia: A cross sectional study

Caring for patients with dementia is a stressful process for caregivers which increases the risk of physical and mental problems, among which depressive disorders stand out. Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia in elderly people.Fil: Tartaglini, Maria Florencia. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caruso, Diego. Unidad Asistencial "Dr. César Milstein"; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, Paula Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Feldberg, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Somale, María Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaAlzheimer´s Association International ConferenceLos AngelesEstados UnidosAlzheimer´s Associatio

Cognitive Reserve in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Importance of Occupational Complexity as a Buffer of Declining Cognition in Older Adults

Cognitive reserve is the ability to optimize performance through differential recruitment of brain networks, which may reflect the use of alternative cognitive strategies. Work is one of the most important sources of cognitive stimulation during adulthood. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate status between normal aging and dementia. As a consequence, this is considered a risk group regarding cognition. In order to study the probable association between occupational complexity and cognitive performance in a group of patients with MCI, a non-probabilistic intentional sample was dispensed on a group of 80 patients. Occupational complexity was explored by the Questionnaire on Agency of Labor Activity (CAAL, according to its acronym in Spanish) and a set of neuropsychological tests, which assessed cognitive performance in different areas: memory, attention, language and executive function, were administered. Results reveal that occupational complexity is associated to cognitive performance of elderly adults with MCI. With respect to working with Data, an increase in neuropsychological tests that demand high levels of attention and imply processing speed and working memory can be noted. Regarding the complexity of working with People, an association between the level of occupational complexity and an increase in verbal abilities and verbal reasoning can be seen. On the other hand, working with Things could be associated with better performance in specific areas of cognition such as visuospatial abilities. These results add up as empirical evidence to the fields of cognitive neurology and gerontology and to the cognitive reserve hypothesis, showing how complex environments can enhance cognition in old age. It adds evidence that help to understand which psychological, social and labor factors intervene in the cognitive reserve of an elder adult in cognitive risk

Cognitive Reserve in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Importance of Occupational Complexity as a Buffer of Declining Cognition in Older Adults

Cognitive reserve is the ability to optimize performance through differential recruitment of brain networks, which may reflect the use of alternative cognitive strategies. Work is one of the most important sources of cognitive stimulation during adulthood. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate status between normal aging and dementia. As a consequence, this is considered a risk group regarding cognition. In order to study the probable association between occupational complexity and cognitive performance in a group of patients with MCI, a non-probabilistic intentional sample was dispensed on a group of 80 patients. Occupational complexity was explored by the Questionnaire on Agency of Labor Activity (CAAL, according to its acronym in Spanish) and a set of neuropsychological tests, which assessed cognitive performance in different areas: memory, attention, language and executive function, were administered. Results reveal that occupational complexity is associated to cognitive performance of elderly adults with MCI. With respect to working with Data, an increase in neuropsychological tests that demand high levels of attention and imply processing speed and working memory can be noted. Regarding the complexity of working with People, an association between the level of occupational complexity and an increase in verbal abilities and verbal reasoning can be seen. On the other hand, working with Things could be associated with better performance in specific areas of cognition such as visuospatial abilities. These results add up as empirical evidence to the fields of cognitive neurology and gerontology and to the cognitive reserve hypothesis, showing how complex environments can enhance cognition in old age. It adds evidence that help to understand which psychological, social and labor factors intervene in the cognitive reserve of an elder adult in cognitive risk.Fil: Feldberg, Carolina. Fundación para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, Paula Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Tartaglini, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Somale, Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Fundación para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with sociodemographic characteristics in a sample of elderly persons living in Buenos Aires, Argentina

<div><p>Abstract Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with sociodemographic characteristics in independent elderly persons without known depression. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted, based on a non-probabilistic, intentional type sampling strategy. A total of 176 independent men and women aged over 60 years residing in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were evaluated through individual interviews using the following instruments: a sociodemographic (ad hoc) questionnaire, an adapted version of the questionnaire of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (V-15) and the Latin American Alexithymia LAC TAS-20 Scale. The Chi-squared and Student's t-tests were used and the Odds Ratio was calculated, with a probability of error less than or equal to 0.05. Results: The mean age was 73 years (+7.1 years) and 72.7% of the participants were women. The prevalence of Geriatric Depression was 35.8%, while that of Alexithymia was 50.6%. The presence of Geriatric Depression was significantly associated with the female gender and with individuals who did not work. High Alexithymia values were observed among those with primary education and a low occupational level. Conclusion: The evaluation of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia in clinical care is recommended, and the social determinants of the health of the elderly should also be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.</p></div

Measuring musical training as a proxy variable of cognitive reserve: Adaptation and validation of the Argentine version of the Musical Training Questionnaire

Introducción:La participación en actividades del tiempo libre, especialmente el entrenamiento musical, puede ser un posible indicador de la Reserva Cognitiva (RC) del sujeto. La relevancia de su estudio consiste en comprender el papel que cumple dicho entrenamiento respecto de las funciones cognitivas en el envejecimiento cerebral. Objetivo:Se presenta la traducción y adaptación al medio local del Musical Training Questionnaire y los estudios psicométricos de la versión final en español: Cuestionario de Entrenamiento Musical ?Argentina (CEM-A)Sujetos:200 adultos de la población general, de diferente género, de nivel socioeconómico medio, de los cuales 100 presentan entrenamiento musical formal igual o superior a 4 años.Métodos:La traducción del inglés al español fue efectuada según el método de traducción transcultural. Se administró:cuestionario de datos generales y el CEM-A y se efectuaron estudios de evidencia de validez aparente, de contenido por criterios de sujetos-jueces, de criterio, y el estudio de confiabilidad por Test-retest. Resultados:Se obtuvo la versión en español del CEM-A que consta de 35 preguntas presentadas en dos apartados: 1-Preparación musical y 2- Conocimiento musical .Se estudió su evidencia de validez aparente y de contenido (Aiken>.82), se obtuvo la evidencia de validez de criterio para los apartados Preparación musical(r=.78 p.82), evidence of validity of the criteria for musical training (r =.78, P<.01) and musical knowledge (r =.81, P<.01); and its reliability (musical training: r =.80, P<.01; musical knowledge: r =.84; P<.01) was obtained. Conclusions: The CEM-A is a useful tool, easy to apply and to evaluate, adapted to the local environment, with adequate psychometric properties to be used in cognitive and psychosocial studies that explore into the role of musical training as a neuroprotective factor of cognition throughout the life span.Fil: Feldberg, Carolina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Dorina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Moya García, Lydia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Mailing, Ingrid. Fundación P/la Lucha C/enferm. neurológicas Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Caruso, Guido Hernán. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Somale, María Verónica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Fundación P/la Lucha C/enferm. neurológicas Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; Argentin