Standardization of gesture apraxia assessment in the elderly population of Olinda city in Northeast Brazil

Apraxia is the inability to voluntarily perform learned gestures, even though sensory and motor functions are preserved. Objective: To standardize apraxia gestures and pantomimes in the elderly population. Methods: A brief clinical and family history, demographic data, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, the Mini-Mental State (MMS), the Modified Mini-Mental State (MMMS), and an evaluation of ideomotor apraxia and pantomimes based on Liepmann's criteria were conducted. Results: There were significant associations between pantomime tasks and MMS, MMMS, and age. Additionally, significant correlations were observed between ideomotor apraxia and MMS, MMMS, age, and higher education levels. Conclusion: The gesture tests demonstrated neuropsychological potential applicability in elderly individuals aged 60 to 79 who have completed at least eight years of education.