Absence of dementia in late-onset schizophrenia: a one year follow-up of a Brazilian case series

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits of late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) patients have been reported as stable, although some prospective studies show that a sub-group develop a significant cognitive decline. Data on LOS from developing countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cognitive performance of Brazilian patients with LOS over the course of one year. METHOD: Thirteen LOS patients were evaluated at baseline and after one year with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the CAMCOG, the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Pfeffer’s Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). RESULTS: Cognition and activities of daily living remained stable over the course of one year [baseline MMSE= 21.31 (4.87) and CAMCOG=80.31 (16.68); end-point MMSE=20.77 (3.86) and CAMCOG=82.92 (14.42) (Z=-0.831; p=0.40); baseline ADL=4.31 (5.65); end-point ADL= 5.92 (3.86) (Z=-0.831; p=0.40)]; end-point NPI=10.54 (10.69) (Z=-0.737; p=0.46]. CONCLUSION: Like patients from developed countries, Brazilian patients with LOS do not seem develop dementia, at least over the course of one year.