Floor Maze Test is capable of differentiating spatial navigation between frail and pre-frail institutionalized older persons

ABSTRACT. Investigation of the association between physical frailty and cognitive performance through spatial navigation is important to enable identification individuals with impairment comorbidity. Objective: To analyze in frail pre-frail institutionalized older adults. Methods: Forty people both sexes, aged 60 years or over, residing four Brazilian Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) participated this study. The following tests were applied: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 2.44m Timed Up Go, Floor Maze Test (FMT), Fried's criteria. For data analysis, Mann-Whitney independent t-tests used compare groups (frail x pre-frail), principal component analysis was explore main variables related variance, binary logistic regression estimate associations. Results: There a significant difference FMT immediate maze time (IMT) (p=0.02) delayed (DMT) (p=0.009) An DMT found, showing that shorter times on (better performance) had approximately chance not being (odds ratio – OR=4.219, 95% confidence interval 95%CI 1.084–16.426, p=0.038). Conclusion: Frailty associated impaired ability adults, regardless gait speed performance.