Using psychometrical instruments adequate for the elderly cognitive evaluation is crucial. The Short Form (SF8) of the WAIS-III has been recommended for such purpose. This study aimed at characterizing cognition in the elderly using the SF8. A hundred ninety two individuals, aged 60 or older, were divided into case and control groups (G1 and G2). Women were the majority (75%). The mean age was 75.9 years (SD=9.1) and their educational level 6.40 years (SD=4.8). There were significant differences in the groups' cognition according to the age, with better performance on verbal than executive skills. Schooling influenced the cognitive performance. The SF8 seemed to be advantageous in evaluating the elderly. It is important to investigate the behavior of individuals with different diagnoses in the SF8.
Cognition; aging; Wechsler scale
