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Updated: May 2, 2026

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Effect of cognitive dysfunction on the relationship between age and health literacy
Kimberly A Kaphingst1, Melody S Goodman1, William D MacMillan1
1Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
Objective:
Age is generally an inverse predictor of health literacy. However, the role of cognitive dysfunction among older adults in this relationship is not understood.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 446 adult patients in a large urban academic level one trauma center, assessing health literacy and cognitive dysfunction.
Results:
Removing older patients (60 years of age and older) who screened positive for cognitive dysfunction attenuated the relationship between age and health literacy (r=-0.16, p=0.001 vs. r=-0.35, p<0.0001). Older patients screening positive for cognitive dysfunction had significantly lower health literacy than older patients screening negative and patients less than 60 years; health literacy scores did not generally differ significantly between the latter groups.
Conclusion:
Much of the relationship between age and health literacy was driven by cognitive dysfunction among a subset of older adults.
Practice Implications:
Our findings suggest that older patients with cognitive dysfunction have the greatest need for health literacy interventions.
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