Health Literacy and Brain Health in Middle-Aged Adults
Health Literacy and Cognitive Function among Middle-Aged Adults: The MidCog Study
This project looks at how health knowledge and self-care skills in middle-aged adults might affect their brain health later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11105797 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how factors in middle age, like how well you understand health information and manage your own care, might influence your memory and thinking abilities as you get older. We are recruiting middle-aged adults (ages 40-64) to join a group that will be followed over time. By looking at this age group, which is often overlooked in brain health research, we hope to find ways to prevent cognitive problems like Alzheimer's disease before they start. Many important health habits and conditions begin in middle age, and improving health literacy could be a key to protecting brain health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are middle-aged adults, specifically those between 40 and 64 years old, interested in understanding how their health choices impact future brain health.
Not a fit: Patients who are already experiencing significant cognitive impairment or are outside the middle-aged adult range may not directly benefit from participating in this specific observational cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify new ways to prevent or delay cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease by focusing on health habits and understanding in middle age.
How similar studies have performed: While some studies have looked at cognitive changes in older adults, this project is novel in its focus on a diverse group of middle-aged adults and the specific role of health literacy in preventing later-life cognitive impairment.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Michael S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Michael S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.