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The Algarve, the most renowned Portuguese destination, is usually associated with its main tourist product, sun and beach. In 2007, the Portuguese government launched a program of events called Allgarve, intending to reposition the destination image. Conceived from the tourists' perspective, the Allgarve program was not initially welcomed by residents. Based on data from 384 questionnaires applied to residents in the region, this study examines the dimensions of the Algarve image and the Allgarve image, and shows how participation in Allgarve events is affecting both. The conclusions from this study reinforce the relevance of residents' participation in events in supporting repositioning strategies of a destination image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies examine residents' attitudes towards tourism development. Similarly, significant research explores the determinants of tourist satisfaction and its effects in planning policies for tourism. The purpose of this study is to establish a connection between these lines of research, showing how the local population may impact upon the way tourists perceive a destination. This study was conducted in the tourist region of Algarve, Portugal, and involves four municipalities bearing different characteristics. Results from statistical analyses show that tourists lodging in municipalities where residents are more positive to tourism experience greater receptiveness and are more satisfied with the tourist experience. The implications for tourism management in heterogeneous tourism regions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Located in the south of Portugal, the Algarve belongs to the top twenty travel destinations worldwide, with a local economy relying strongly on tourism-related activities. The Allgarve programme was launched in 2007 and is an umbrella brand that aims to reposition the Algarve as a refined tourism destination with glamour. Allgarve is a set of cultural, artistic and sports events offered mainly during the summer season. Based on data from a questionnaire carried out with 282 foreign tourists who visited the Algarve, this study identifies and profiles clusters of tourists based on their perceptions of Allgarve. In addition, we analyse to what extent the image of the Algarve has changed as a consequence of the Allgarve events. The results show that most respondents agree with the Allgarve brand name, report a positive perception of the campaign, and agree that it has a positive impact for the Algarve differentiation. However, the results suggest that the majority of tourists still come to the region attracted by the Algarve brand, and that this brand has not been affected by the Allgarve programme's content. The findings of this study are important in understanding the implications of events in repositioning strategies of mature tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algarve is Portugal's top tourism destination. In looking to develop the traditional sun and beach tourism, the Portuguese government launched the Allgarve program in 2007 with the aim of positioning the region as a premier tourism destination, promoting the cultural industry as a modern and competitive component of the regional economy. Using partial least squares modelling (PLS), the study explores the relationship between the image projected by Allgarve and the image of Algarve as a tourism destination. Results show that the program has had a positive and reasonably strong influence on the destination image. In terms of affective elements, findings show that these were not easily perceived by tourists, as anticipated by the Allgarve program. An important outcome of this study is to contribute towards better management of future editions of the Allgarve program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the performance differences between literate and illiterate participants in a well-defined study population in Portugal. Effect of literacy or level of formal education on the naming and identification of real objects, verbal fluency using ecologically relevant semantic criteria, verbal memory and orientation; Effects of literacy and level of formal education on cognitive brain function.

Introduction: The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale is a brief battery developed to assess cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's disease that encompasses the core characteristics of cognitive decline (e.g. memory, language, praxis, constructive ability and orientation). The early detection, as well as the monitoring of cognitive decline along disease progression, is extremely important in clinical care and interventional research. The main goals of the present study were to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale, and to establish normative values for the Portuguese population., Material and Methods: The Portuguese version of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale was administered to 223 cognitively healthy participants according to a standard assessment protocol consisting of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Adults and Older Adults Functional Assessment Inventory. Normal performance on the assessment protocol was the inclusion criteria for the study., Results: The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale revealed good psychometric properties when used in the Portuguese population. Age was the main predictor of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale total score (R2 = 0.123), whereas the influence of education level was lower (R2 = 0.027). These two variables explained 14.4% of the variance on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale scores and were used to stratify the normative values for the Portuguese population presented here., Conclusion: On the total sample, the average total score in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale was 6 points. The normative data were determined according to age and educational level as these were the sociodemographic variables that significantly contributed to the prediction of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale total scores, explaining 14.4% of their variance. The normative data are of the utmost importance to ensure proper use of this battery in Portugal.

Background: Subjective memory complaints are frequently reported by the elderly. There is less information about the characterization of subjective memory complaints in young people., Objective: To determine different memory complaints between young and elderly people with the use of the Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) scale., Methods: Participants were volunteers attending a health itinerant unit, a blood donor centre, a leisure centre for retired people, a senior citizens college or university. All participants were questioned about their own memory abilities using the SMC scale and assessed for the presence of depressive symptoms., Results: Nine-hundred and forty-six subjects aged 18-92 years were included in the study. The mean total score on the SMC scale was 4.89 +/- 3.03, and 75.9% of the participants had at least minor complaints about their memory. Older people had more general memory complaints and reported they were more likely to become transiently confused, whereas younger people reported they were more frequently told by others that they were forgetful and would more often take notes., Conclusions: Memory complaints were frequent both in young and elderly subjects, but the detailed assessment revealed age-related differences in the type of complaints., (2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)