INTRODUCTION: Currently, dementia is a meanly problem in public health due to the long extension and complexity of functional and emotional manifestations and social consequence, to the elderly and their relatives. The diagnosis of dementia is based on investigation in the cognitive decrease in risk population. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to evaluate the mental state in patients aged 60 years old or more, participants in the City Program for the Elderly, in Viçosa MG, and their relation with the factors concerning the health situation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 74 aged was conducted, excluding the aged who had low educational level. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire application to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics and the facts concerning health and the Mental State Small-Exam. RESULTS: Among the evaluated elderly, we found a prevalence in a cognitive decline of 36.5%. The score average in the MEEM was 19.49 points and the average in the aged was 68.5 years old. DISCUSSION: The results show that the small level in frequency to school has a negative influence in the metal state in the elderly. CONCLUSION: It is high the number of elderly with cognitive decline, and the result shows that the MEEM influences educational level, what makes it difficult to interpret the results in elderly with low educational level.
Elderly; Evaluation; Cognitive decline; Mental state small exam; Dementia