Knowledge About COVID-19 Symptoms, Transmission, and Prevention: The Relationship With Cognitive Status in Older Adults

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Felicia Goldstein, Emory University; Jessica Saurman, Emory University; Amy Rodriguez, Emory University; Kayci Vickers, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-01
• Publisher: SAGE Publishing
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: The Author(s) 2022
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23337214221123708
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Volume: 8
• Start Page: 23337214221123708
• End Page: 23337214221123708
• Grant/Funding Information: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
• Keywords: protective behaviors; Coronavirus; knowledge; COVID-19; cognitive assessment; mild cognitive impairment
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Objective: Advanced age poses an increased risk for cognitive impairment, and therefore, poor knowledge regarding the risks associated with COVID-19 may confer vulnerability. We administered a COVID-19 Knowledge Questionnaire to older persons to evaluate the association between knowledge regarding public health recommendations, and cognitive status as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Method: Ninety-nine participants completed a 22-item questionnaire about COVID-19 symptoms, risks, and protective strategies, and they also completed the MoCA. Associations between knowledge and cognitive status were examined via Spearman correlations. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 72.6 (7.6) years, and MoCA scores averaged 23.4 (4.5) points. Higher MoCA total scores were significantly (p <.001) correlated with a greater number of correct questionnaire responses. Higher Orientation and Memory Index scores were moderately associated with an increased number of correct responses (p <.001), with the Executive Index exhibiting a significant albeit weaker association. MoCA Index scores assessing attention, language, and visuospatial functioning were not significantly associated with COVID-19 knowledge. Conclusions: Given the rapid transmission rate of the SARS CoV-2 infections, COVID knowledge lapses will likely have deleterious repercussions. Public health messages should ensure effective acquisition and retention of COVID specific information, especially in cognitively compromised older adults.