# COVID-19 Supplement to LitCog IV: Health Literacy and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $391,278

## Abstract

We are seeking a supplement to our ongoing study (‘LitCog’; R01AG030611) in order to conduct two parallel,
complementary investigations of the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on older adults’ lifestyle behaviors,
psychological & physical function, socioeconomic circumstances, healthcare use, access & adherence to
treatment, and health outcomes. First, we will extend our current inquiries to now determine whether LitCog
participants with cognitive impairment are experiencing greater challenges in accessing care and managing
personal health due to COVID-19 compared to cognitively ‘normal’ adults. Such a natural experiment is possible
with LitCog; since 2007 we have tracked declines in cognition, as well as onset of cognitive impairment, and the
resulting impact on self-management of chronic conditions among diverse, community dwelling, older adults. We
will leverage our recent renewal award, with data capture from active patients (N=776), involved caregivers
(N=100), electronic health (EHR) and pharmacy records, and add 5 telephone interviews conducted every 4
months to address the following primary aim:
Aim 1 Investigate whether poorer cognitive function or MCI prior to the COVID-19 outbreak is
 associated with inadequate use of healthcare services and/or poorer health status.
Second, we will also extend our LitCog-linked, Chicago COVID-19 Comorbidities (C3) cohort study. In March
2020, as cases of COVID-19 were emerging in Chicago, our team rapidly responded by launching a survey to
understand how older adults with chronic conditions, at greater risk for COVID-19 complications, were
responding and taking action (or not) to prevent infection and disease spread. LitCog participants (n=153), as
well as patients enrolled in four other active studies (N=673) with uniform data collection for a large set of patient
factors and similar access to EHR and pharmacy records were recruited. Interviews were conducted during
Chicago’s COVID-19 outbreak phase (March 13-20), rapid acceleration phase (March 27-April 3), and apex
phase (May 1-19). Our findings revealed many high risk adults lacked critical knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms
and ways to prevent harm, did not feel susceptible to the virus, felt unprepared for the outbreak, were not social
distancing or ensuring they had adequate supplies of prescribed medications. Disparities were revealed; black
adults, those living below poverty level, with low health literacy and poorer cognition were less prepared. Moving
forward, the C3 cohort will also be followed as the LitCog cohort in Aim 1, allowing us to combine both cohorts
and more directly investigate the longer-term impact of stress due to COVID-19 on the health and behaviors of
adults with chronic conditions. Our secondary aim is to:
Aim 2 Examine adults’ perceived stress from COVID-19 and its associations with lifestyle & self-
management behaviors, healthcare use, patient-reported and clinical outcomes over time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10185140
- **Project number:** 3R01AG030611-13S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL S WOLF
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $391,278
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2007-09-15 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10185140

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10185140, COVID-19 Supplement to LitCog IV: Health Literacy and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults (3R01AG030611-13S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10185140. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*