Cognitive Function and Health Literacy Decline in a Cohort of Aging English Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low health literacy is common among aging patients and is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. We aimed to describe health literacy decline during aging and to investigate the roles of cognitive function and decline in determining health literacy decline.

Methods

Data were from 5,256 non-cognitively impaired adults aged ≥ 52 years in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Health literacy was assessed using a four-item reading comprehension assessment of a fictitious medicine label, and cognitive function was assessed in a battery administered in-person at baseline (2004-2005) and at follow-up (2010-2011).

Results

Overall, 19.6% (1,032/5,256) of participants declined in health literacy score over the follow-up. Among adults aged ≥ 80 years at baseli

SUBMITTER: Kobayashi LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4471026 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature