Avaliação das demências: uma revisão de escopo sobre instrumetnos utilizados no Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: The assessment of dementia in elderly individuals requires the use of validated psychometric instruments that are culturally adapted to the Brazilian population. However, there is still a lack of studies that explore the quality of these tools in the national context. Considering the aging population and the increasing prevalence of dementia, it is essential to understand the methodological robustness of the available instruments. Objective: To map the instruments used in Brazil to assess dementia and provide a comprehensive view of the applicability of these tools in the clinical context and in the Unified Health System (SUS). Method: A scoping review was conducted, and the review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The study protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework. The research question was developed based on the Population, Context and Concept framework. Four databases were used (Psycinfo, PubMed, Scielo, LILACS). In addition, eligibility criteria were defined. Digital Artificial Intelligence tools, such as Rayyan and ChatGPT, were used to assist in the operationalization of some specific parts of this study. Results: A total of 273 studies were identified, and after all the steps for analysis and selection of articles, 28 studies were included in this scoping review. To better understand the data extracted from these articles, the results were categorized into five sections: (i) Tests covered in the literature; (ii) Cognitive functions with greater recurrence in neuropsychological tests; (iii) Locations with greater prevalence of the identified studies; (iv) Psychometric data of the identified instruments; (v) Instruments aimed at the assessment of specific subtypes of dementia. Conclusions: The analysis of the included studies revealed that, despite the existence of a significant number of instruments adapted and/or developed for the Brazilian context, there is still significant heterogeneity regarding the methods used to verify their validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. However, even with this variability, the instruments mapped in this review can qualify the early dentification of dementia conditions and clinical monitoring in the SUS, contributing to more effective diagnoses and interventions focused on the elderly.