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

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 Pfeffers 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 to develop dementia, at least over the course of one year.