Health literacy and cognitive function in midlife adults
Official title: Health Literacy and Cognitive Function among Middle-Aged Adults: The MidCog Study
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11361751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults aged 35–64 will look at how health literacy and self-management relate to early changes in thinking and memory to help prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
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 start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,157,335 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AG070212-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 35–64 who are willing to participate in cognitive testing, health-literacy surveys, and have access to their electronic health records.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the midlife or those unwilling to participate in long-term follow-up may not benefit.
What this research studies
MidCog recruits adults 35–64 to track cognitive function, health literacy, and self-management skills over about 2.5 years, alongside access to electronic health records. The study aims to identify modifiable midlife factors that could influence later brain health and dementia risk. Participants complete cognitive tests, psychosocial and behavioral assessments, and health-related surveys to understand how everyday health management might protect or jeopardize thinking abilities. Researchers will combine these data with health records to identify patterns and potential targets for future interventions. This work is designed to inform strategies to empower midlife adults to maintain brain health and reduce dementia risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide midlife prevention strategies to preserve memory and thinking skills later in life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous midlife studies have provided important clues, but many had limited follow-up or sample diversity; this study seeks to build on those results with longer follow-up and broader measures.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Michael S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Michael S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.