Table 3.
Likelihood of having low health literacy per one standard deviation stronger cognitive decline among older adults, in odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals)
| Low health literacy (vs. high) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 1a | Model 2b | Model 3c | |
| Memory decline (n = 723) | 1.09 (0.85–1.39) |
1.50** (1.13–1.99) |
1.40* (1.05–1.88) |
| Information processing speed decline (n = 728) | 1.27 (0.88–1.83) |
1.50* (1.03–2.19) |
1.29 (0.87–1.91) |
| Mental flexibility decline (n = 723) | 1.19 (0.89–1.60) |
1.37* (1.03–1.84) |
1.27 (0.93–1.73) |
| Global cognitive functioning decline (n = 712) | 1.10 (0.71–1.71) |
1.68* (1.05–2.67) |
1.54 (0.95–2.51) |
*p < .05, **p < .01
Cognitive decline calculated as the difference between current and past cognitive functioning, with a higher score indicating stronger decline
aAdjusted for age, age squared, and gender
bAdjusted for age, age squared, gender, and past cognitive functioning
cAdjusted for age, age squared, gender, past cognitive functioning, and educational level