[pt] O envelhecimento em todo o mundo é um dos maiores desafios da saúde. Nesse contexto, condições clínicas como demências e Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) também aumentam suas prevalências. A causa de demência mais frequente e estudada é demência de Alzheimer (DA). Tradicionalmente, DA é caracterizada pelo déficit precoce na memória episódica. Entretanto, estudos atuais mostram que a DA apresenta heterogeneidade neuropsicológica e alguns pacientes apresentam déficits cognitivos precoces não-amnésticos. Essas apresentações são chamadas por alguns autores de DA atípica. Dessa forma, a primeira parte dessa tese dedicou-se a estudar a heterogeneidade neuropsicológica na DA através de dois estudos: uma revisão sistemática sobre heterogeneidade neuropsicológica na DA (publicado) e um estudo de casos sobre perfis típico e atípico na DA (publicado). A revisão sistemática tornou-se necessária já que foi a primeira revisão sistemática publicada sobre o tema. Os achados dos dois estudos mostraram que aspectos atípicos na DA precisam ser mais explorados, já que DA não é uma condição homogênea. Compreender esses perfis cognitivos na DA irá interferir nos métodos diagnósticos e intervenções terapêuticas, seja farmacológica ou comportamental. A segunda parte dessa tese explora esses aspectos atípicos em três amostras: envelhecimento normal, CCL e AD. Assim, um estudo transversal foi realizado para comparar medidas de velocidade de processamento (VP), controle inibitório e automonitoramento nas três amostras. Os resultados desse estudo mostram que medidas de VP podem ser indicadores precoces do declínio cognitivo envelhecimento. Ao comparar CCL com o grupo de envelhecimento saudável, os dados mostram diferença nas medidas de VP e erros cometidos nos testes de VP. Entretanto, as duas amostras não apresentaram diferenças nas medidas de funções executivas (FEs) e nas medidas de funcionalidade. CCL versus AD mostraram diferenças nas medidas de VP, funções executivas e funcionalidade. Dessa forma, esse estudo traz resultados relevantes para o diagnóstico precoce de CCL e novas diretrizes para o cenário clínico e pesquisa. Além disso, na segunda parte desta tese foi realizado um artigo sobre acurácia diagnóstica das medidas de VP nos casos de CCL e AD. A literatura mostra falta de estudos sobre diferenças nas medidas de VP no envelhecimento e parâmetros diagnósticos dos instrumentos de VP. Esse estudo mostrou que medidas de VP apresentam habilidades discriminativas, para DA e CCL. Esses dados são necessários, já que apresentamos um cenário de escassez de instrumentos com elevados parâmetros diagnósticos para medidas de VP no envelhecimento. Esse cenário torna-se ainda mais drástico, quando falamos de Brasil. / [en] Aging is a major healthcare challenge worldwide. With aging, the prevalence of conditions such as dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment increase. The most frequent and studied cause of dementia is Alzheimer s dementia (AD). Traditionally, AD is characterized by early deficit in episodic memory. However, current studies show that AD presents heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, especially cognitive manifestations. Thus, some patients present a non-amnestic cognitive profile. These profiles are called by some authors as atypical AD. The first part of this thesis was aimed at studying the neuropsychological heterogeneity in AD by means of 2 studies: a systematic review on neuropsychological heterogeneity in AD (published) and cases of study with typical and atypical AD patients (published). The systematic review was necessary, as it was the first published review about the topic. The findings of the two studies show that atypical aspects in AD need to be further explored, since AD is not a homogeneous condition. Understanding these cognitive profiles in AD will interfere in diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions, either pharmacological or behavioral ones. The second part of this thesis explores atypical aspects in three samples: normal aging, MCI and AD. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to compare measures of processing speed (PS), inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility in the three samples. The results of this study showed that PS measures may be early indicators of cognition decline in aging. MCI versus normal aging showed differences in PS measures and errors in tests of PS. However, these samples did not show differences in executive function measures (EFs) and functional measures. Nevertheless, MCI versus AD show differences in PS measures, executive functions and functionality. Thus, this study showed relevant results for the diagnosis process of MCI and new guidelines for clinical settings and research. In addition, in the second part of this thesis an article was written on diagnostic accuracy of the PS measures used in cases of MCI and AD. The literature shows a lack of studies on differences in PS measures in aging and diagnostic parameters of PS instruments. This study showed that PS measures present discriminative abilities in AD and MCI. These data are important, as there is a lack of diagnostic tools for PS in aging, especially in the Brazilian scenario.

The master's thesis is completed on 74 pages, consists of an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion, a bibliography of 39 titles, contains 6 figures, 1 table, no appendices. Object of study: neurocognitive functions of children of primary school age. Subject of research: differences in the neurocognitive development of children of primary school age studying in different educational environments. The study involved 80 2nd grade schoolchildren (40 people studied under the program of the Russian Classical School (St. Petersburg and Kazan) and 40 people studied in schools in Yekaterinburg). The empirical study was carried out using the Kolobok computer method for complex neuropsychological testing of children, developed at the Department of Psychophysiology and Psychophysics of the Ural Federal University under the leadership of S. Yu. Kiselev. The first chapter describes the theoretical foundations of the study, including modern ideas about neurocognitive functions and their development in children of primary school age. The second chapter examines the neuropsychological approach and basic neuropsychological mechanisms. The third chapter presents a description of the diagnostic methodology, features of the educational environment of the Russian Classical School (RCS), and an analysis of differences between groups in the level of development of neurocognitive functions. As a result of the study, the hypothesis was confirmed: the educational environment of RKS has a beneficial effect on the development of brain mechanisms involved in graphic activity (kinetic, kinesthetic, spatial mechanism). Statistically significant differences in junior schoolchildren of the experimental and control groups were observed in the “finger posture praxis”, “table drawing”, graphic test and “path finding” test. It was found that junior schoolchildren studying at the Russian classical school showed a higher level of development of the spatial factor, kinetic factor and kinesthetic factor within graphic activities. The conclusion contains the main conclusions from the research results and suggestions for further study of this topic. / Магистерская диссертация выполнена на 74 страницах, состоит из введения, трех глав, заключения, списка литературы из 39 наименований, содержит 6 рисунков, 1 таблицу, приложения отсутствуют. Объект исследования: нейрокогнитивные функции детей младшего школьного возраста. Предмет исследования: различия в нейрокогнитивном развитии детей младшего школьного возраста, обучающихся в различных образовательных средах. В исследовании приняли участие 80 учеников 2 класса (40 человек – обучалось по программе Русской классической школы (г. Санкт-Петербурга и г. Казани) и 40 человек – обучалось в средних общеобразовательных школах г. Екатеринбурга). Эмпирическое исследование было проведено при помощи компьютерной методики комплексного нейропсихологического тестирования детей «Колобок», разработанной на кафедре психофизиологии и психофизики Уральского федерального университета под руководством С. Ю. Киселёва. В первой главе описываются теоретические основы исследования, включая современные представления о нейрокогнитивных функциях и их развитии у детей младшего школьного возраста. Во второй главе рассматривается нейропсихологический подход и базовые нейропсихологические механизмы. В третьей главе представлено описание диагностической методики, особенностей образовательной среды Русской классической школы (РКШ), проведен анализ различий между группами по уровню развития нейрокогнитивных функций. В результате исследования гипотеза подтвердилась: образовательная среда РКШ оказывает благоприятное воздействие на развитие мозговых механизмов, участвующих в графической деятельности (кинетический, кинестетический, пространственный механизм). Статистически значимые различия у младших школьников экспериментальной и контрольной групп наблюдались по пробам «праксис поз пальцев», «рисунок стола», графической пробе и пробе «нахождение пути». Было обнаружено, что младшие школьники, обучающиеся в Русской классической школе показали более высокий уровень развития пространственного фактора, кинетического фактора и кинестетического фактора внутри графической деятельности. Заключение содержит основные выводы по результатам исследования и предложения для дальнейшего изучения данной темы.

BACKGROUND: Many women of reproductive age are employed in industries involving exposure to organic solvents. Animal toxicological studies and human case reports demonstrate that exposure to organic solvents can cause neuropsychological deficits in exposed offspring; however, there is limited data from prospective controlled human studies. OBJECTIVE: To compare neuropsychological functioning between children whose mothers were occupationally exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy with a non-exposed matched comparison group. METHODS: Participants were 48 women who had previously contacted the Motherisk Program in Toronto, Canada during pregnancy regarding occupational exposure to organic solvents and a matched comparison group of women with no known exposure to teratogens during pregnancy. Children (18 months to 8 years 11 months at time of study) were compared in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral functioning. RESULTS: Children whose mothers were exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy displayed a lower level of functioning when compared with their matched peers in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral domains. Although the scores on measures of behavioral functioning were not in the clinical range, the mothers of exposed children reported more challenging behavioral problems. In order to determine whether exposure predicted neuropsychological outcomes above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning, hierarchical regressions were run with maternal IQ and maternal education at Step 1and exposure status added at Step 2. In utero exposure to organic solvents predicted lower sores on global measures of Verbal IQ, receptive and expressive language scales above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning. Factors associated with higher levels of exposure (detecting odor, longer duration and total number of toxicity symptoms) was associated with poorer outcome on behavioral and motor functioning tests. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the exposed mothers experienced minimal symptoms of toxicity, detrimental effects were still evident in their offspring. Current safety standards for exposure were designed for adults and need to be reevaluated. Further studies addressing exposure to specific organic solvents, dose, and gestational timing of exposure are warranted.

BACKGROUND: Many women of reproductive age are employed in industries involving exposure to organic solvents. Animal toxicological studies and human case reports demonstrate that exposure to organic solvents can cause neuropsychological deficits in exposed offspring; however, there is limited data from prospective controlled human studies. OBJECTIVE: To compare neuropsychological functioning between children whose mothers were occupationally exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy with a non-exposed matched comparison group. METHODS: Participants were 48 women who had previously contacted the Motherisk Program in Toronto, Canada during pregnancy regarding occupational exposure to organic solvents and a matched comparison group of women with no known exposure to teratogens during pregnancy. Children (18 months to 8 years 11 months at time of study) were compared in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral functioning. RESULTS: Children whose mothers were exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy displayed a lower level of functioning when compared with their matched peers in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral domains. Although the scores on measures of behavioral functioning were not in the clinical range, the mothers of exposed children reported more challenging behavioral problems. In order to determine whether exposure predicted neuropsychological outcomes above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning, hierarchical regressions were run with maternal IQ and maternal education at Step 1and exposure status added at Step 2. In utero exposure to organic solvents predicted lower sores on global measures of Verbal IQ, receptive and expressive language scales above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning. Factors associated with higher levels of exposure (detecting odor, longer duration and total number of toxicity symptoms) was associated with poorer outcome on behavioral and motor functioning tests. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the exposed mothers experienced minimal symptoms of toxicity, detrimental effects were still evident in their offspring. Current safety standards for exposure were designed for adults and need to be reevaluated. Further studies addressing exposure to specific organic solvents, dose, and gestational timing of exposure are warranted.

This thesis presents a method of identifying astronomical expressionsinherent within the spatial geography, cultural landscapes, and layouts of structures with a view to implementing the systematics in an African context. In determining astronomical codes of the southern African pre - early farmer and metalworking archaeological sites - this review deals with oral tradition, rituals, formative calendars, fertility, meteorites, eclipses, bio-diversity, sustainable agriculture, rainmaking and the general star lore. Conclusions are drawn from the hypothesis that certain structures functioned as astronomical expressions by use of monoliths and other configurations, with specific examples of how these possibilities were drawn from aspects within the Mapungubwe/Zimbabwe Cultural Complex and the preceding riverine cultural formations. / Dissertation (MSc(Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted