Literacy and Neuropsychological Functions in the Older Korean Adults.
- Author:
Hye Sung MOON
1
;
Jean Yung CHEY
Author Information
1. Department of Psychology, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Literacy;
Illiterate;
Neuropsychological test;
Dementia;
Clock Drawing Test
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Chungcheongnam-do;
Dementia;
Literacy;
Humans;
Memory;
Neuropsychological Tests;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of Korean Geriatric Psychiatry
2004;8(2):113-120
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of illiteracy on neuropsychological functions of older Korean adults. Illiteracy was evaluated with the Literacy Questionnaire which involved interview with the subjects. METHODS: The participants were 206 healthy people, ages between 55 and 84, who were sampled in the Seoul-Kyungki region and Chungnam province. RESULTS: The results revealed that verbal memory tests were not disadvantageous to illiterate people. Rather non-verbal tasks such as the copy condition of the Simple Rey Figure Test and the Clock Drawing Test proved disadvantageous. CONCLUSION: Literacy appears to be beneficial to the development of visuospatial abilities. Neuropsychological tests that involve visuospatial function may not be efficient in discriminating dementia patients who are illiterate.
