Lindsay C. Kobayashi|Jane Wardle|Michael S. Wolf|Christian von Wagner
Cognitive Function and Health Literacy Decline in a Cohort of Aging English Adults
University College London|University College London|Northwestern University|University College London
low health literacy common among aging patients risk factor morbidity mortality aimed describe health literacy decline aging investigate roles cognitive function decline determining health literacy decline data 5256 noncognitively impaired adults aged 52 years english longitudinal study ageing health literacy assessed using fouritem reading comprehension assessment fictitious medicine label cognitive function assessed battery administered inperson baseline 20042005 followup 20102011 overall 196 10325256 participants declined health literacy score followup among adults aged 80 years baseline proportion 382 102267 compared 148 78526 among adults aged 5254 years 321 95 ci 226457 sociodemographic predictors health literacy decline male sex 120 95 ci 104138 nonwhite ethnicity 242 95 ci 151389 low educational attainment 158 95 ci 129195 qualifications vs degree education low occupational class 167 95 ci 139201 routine vs managerial occupations higher baseline cognitive function scores protected health literacy decline cognitive decline yes vs predicted decline health literacy score 159 95 ci 135187 memory decline 156 95 ci 132185 executive function decline health literacy decline appeared increase age associated even subtle cognitive decline older nonimpaired adults striking social inequalities evident whereby men minority deprived backgrounds particularly vulnerable literacy decline health practitioners must able recognize limited health literacy ensure clinical demands match literacy skills diverse patients