Objective:

To determine the relationship between cognition and functional capacity in the elderly.

Method:

Cross-sectional descriptive, correlational research conducted in 2015-2016 in La Libertad (Peru) with 1110 adults over 60 years of age and older, both sexes, physically or mentally fit or not. who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The variables were measured: cognition with the Minols State Examination (MMSE) of Folstein and cols., and the functional capacity with the Katz index for basic activities of daily living (ABVD) and the Lawton and Brody scale for activities instruments of daily life (AIVD). Once the information was collected, a bivariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the variables using the chi-square test.

Results:

The highest percentage (22.7 %) of the elderly were 60-64 years old, 58.8 % women, 47.4 % with primary education, 93.6 % normal cognition, and 83.4 % and 60 % were independent in basic life activities daily, and in instrumental activities of daily life, respectively. There is a highly significant relationship between cognition and functional capacity of the basic activities of daily life (x2 = 206.0 p-value = 0.000) and instrumental activities of daily life (x2 = 289.0 p-value = 0.000).

Conclusions:

There is an intimate relationship between cognition and functional capacity through the activities of daily life important determinants for healthy aging and well-being in old age, and for nursing it is challenges to promote and / or maintain these determinants at the highest possible level.

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