ABSTRACT Introduction: The accelerated aging of the Cuban population is an alert to the high prevalence of dementias and other chronic diseases. Objective: To describe the influence of health status determinants of the population in the development of cognitive disorders. Data source: 113 articles in the Scielo Virtual Library and in Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane and PubMed databases were consulted, both in English and Spanish. 38 of the selected were published in national and international magazines of great impact, by authors considered experts in this subject. Synthesis of data: In addition to biological and genetic factors, there are other psychosocial determinants such as education and lifestyles that may have an impact on the onset and development of dementia. Among the latter are toxic habits, social interactions, sleep, and depressive states. These states may be considered as a psychological reaction to incipient cognitive worsening or as an early manifestation of dementia. Conclusions: The influence of population´s health status determinants in the development of cognitive disorders is remarkable. Given the accelerated aging of the Cuban population, cognitive disorders become a growing health problem. More research is needed and the results of this may contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological behavior of these disorders. It is necessary, through intersectoral work, the implementation of community intervention strategies that help above all most vulnerable population to have a better life quality.

RESUMEN Introducción: Ante el envejecimiento acelerado de la población cubana los trastornos cognitivos se han convertido en creciente problema y un reto para nuestro sistema de salud. Objetivo: Describir la influencia de las determinantes del estado de salud de la población en el desarrollo de los trastornos cognitivos. Fuente de datos: Se consultaron 113 artículos en la Biblioteca Virtual Scielo y en las bases de datos Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane y PubMed, en idioma Inglés y Español. Se seleccionaron 40, publicados en revistas nacionales e internacionales de gran impacto, por autores considerados expertos en esta temática. Síntesis de los datos: Además de factores biológicos y genéticos, existen determinantes psicosociales como el nivel educacional y los estilos de vida que pudieran incidir en la aparición y desarrollo de las demencias. Entre estos últimos, aparecen los hábitos tóxicos, las relaciones sociales, antecedentes de depresión, nivel socioeconómico y otros. Conclusiones: La influencia de los determinantes del estado de salud de la población en el desarrollo de los trastornos cognitivos, es notable. Es necesario el estudio de estos determinantes y su contribución a la puesta en marcha de estrategias de intervención comunitaria que ayuden, sobre todo, a la población más vulnerable a tener una mejor calidad de vida.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The accelerated aging of the Cuban population is an alert to the high prevalence of dementias and other chronic diseases. Objective: To describe the influence of health status determinants of the population in the development of cognitive disorders. Data source: 113 articles in the Scielo Virtual Library and in Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane and PubMed databases were consulted, both in English and Spanish. 38 of the selected were published in national and international magazines of great impact, by authors considered experts in this subject. Synthesis of data: In addition to biological and genetic factors, there are other psychosocial determinants such as education and lifestyles that may have an impact on the onset and development of dementia. Among the latter are toxic habits, social interactions, sleep, and depressive states. These states may be considered as a psychological reaction to incipient cognitive worsening or as an early manifestation of dementia. Conclusions: The influence of population´s health status determinants in the development of cognitive disorders is remarkable. Given the accelerated aging of the Cuban population, cognitive disorders become a growing health problem. More research is needed and the results of this may contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological behavior of these disorders. It is necessary, through intersectoral work, the implementation of community intervention strategies that help above all most vulnerable population to have a better life quality.

RESUMEN Introducción: Ante el envejecimiento acelerado de la población cubana los trastornos cognitivos se han convertido en creciente problema y un reto para nuestro sistema de salud. Objetivo: Describir la influencia de las determinantes del estado de salud de la población en el desarrollo de los trastornos cognitivos. Fuente de datos: Se consultaron 113 artículos en la Biblioteca Virtual Scielo y en las bases de datos Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane y PubMed, en idioma Inglés y Español. Se seleccionaron 40, publicados en revistas nacionales e internacionales de gran impacto, por autores considerados expertos en esta temática. Síntesis de los datos: Además de factores biológicos y genéticos, existen determinantes psicosociales como el nivel educacional y los estilos de vida que pudieran incidir en la aparición y desarrollo de las demencias. Entre estos últimos, aparecen los hábitos tóxicos, las relaciones sociales, antecedentes de depresión, nivel socioeconómico y otros. Conclusiones: La influencia de los determinantes del estado de salud de la población en el desarrollo de los trastornos cognitivos, es notable. Es necesario el estudio de estos determinantes y su contribución a la puesta en marcha de estrategias de intervención comunitaria que ayuden, sobre todo, a la población más vulnerable a tener una mejor calidad de vida.

INTRODUCTION Globally, older adults are a population group that often suffers abuse by their caregivers. Along with women and children, they are among those most often reported as victims of abuse of any kind in Cuba. OBJECTIVES Characterize presence of domestic abuse of older adults in family doctor-and-nurse office No. 28 of the Carlos Manuel Portuondo University Polyclinic in Havana, Cuba, determining the main manifestations of abuse and help-seeking behavior by the older adults identified as victims. METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥60 years; all those not diagnosed with dementia and who agreed to participate were interviewed. In a universe of 268 older adults, 29 were living outside the area, 24 declined to participate, and 18 had a diagnosis of dementia, leaving a study population of 197 individuals. Variables included: personal experience of abuse, type of abuse, perpetrator, help sought, and reasons for not seeking help. Statistical analysis was based on percentages. RESULTS Of 197 older adults interviewed, 88 (44.7%) reported that they were victims of domestic abuse; 50 of these were women. The most common types of abuse were psychological abuse and disrespect for personal space, reported by 69 (78.4%) and 54 (61.4%) individuals, respectively. Sons- and daughters-in-law were identified as the abusers by 68 participants and grandchildren by 65. Of the 88 victims, 67 (76.1%) stated that they did not seek help. CONCLUSIONS The finding that substantial numbers of older adults are victims of domestic abuse brings to light a hitherto insufficiently addressed issue in the community studied. More research is needed to deepen understanding of the scope and causes of the problem to inform prevention and management strategies, not only at the level of the polyclinic catchment area, but in the health system in general.

A literature review was made to describe the main elements that characterize the process of communication and to precise over the particularities of communication in pedagogy. As a methodological principle, it was adopted that structuring of teaching and learning with a communicative approach represents an essential component in order to guarantee the quality of this process. Documentary analysis, analysis/synthesis and induction/deduction methods were used. Contents cards and a concept map were performed to guide the work. The definition of communication as a process, its components and the importance of language in it were also presented. The particularities of the pedagogic communication, different styles, barriers and the leading role of the cultural approach were all analyzed. It was concluded that the teaching-learning process requires an approach centered in the importance of pedagogic communication to guarantee quality.

Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica con los objetivos de describir los principales elementos que caracterizan la comunicación como proceso y precisar las particularidades de la comunicación en pedagogía. Se tomó como principio metodológico que la estructuración de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje con un enfoque comunicativo representa un componente esencial para garantizar la calidad del proceso. Se utilizaron métodos de análisis documental, análisis-síntesis e inducción-deducción. Se elaboraron fichas de contenido y el mapa de conceptos que sirvieron de guía para el trabajo. Se expone la definición de comunicación como proceso, sus componentes y la importancia del lenguaje dentro de ella. Se analizaron las particularidades de la comunicación pedagógica, los diferentes estilos, sus barreras y el protagonismo del enfoque cultural. Se concluye que el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje precisa de un enfoque centrado en la importancia de la comunicación pedagógica para poder garantizar su calidad.