Project Details
Projekt
Psychosocial and health-related impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, antibodies and vaccination in older individuals (CORO-TREND)
Applicants
Dr. Kathrin Brockmann; Professor Dr. Gerhard W. Eschweiler; Privatdozent Dr. Sebastian Heinzel; Professor Dr. Ansgar Thiel
Subject Area
Biogerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Empirical Social Research
Epidemiology and Medical Biometry/Statistics
Empirical Social Research
Epidemiology and Medical Biometry/Statistics
Term
from 2021 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458531848
SARS-CoV-2 infections can cause severe and diverse health issues. However, so far relatively few individuals suffer from direct infection causes in Germany compared to the impact of restrictions that may affect health and livelihoods on a population scale. Imposed restrictions of everyday living and isolation affect emotional and behavioral processing, social networks and mobility. Senior citizens are particularly at risk of COVID-19, and thus often most protected and restricted. Long-term effects of these restrictions for their lives, and factors deciding, who suffers most from current and future restrictions and who is resilient or coping well, are still unclear. Moreover, the effects of disclosing SARS-CoV-2 antibody status and of (potential) vaccinations on psychosocial aspects of life are unknown.In the study applied for, longitudinal changes (11 years pre-outbreak and 3 years post-outbreak) of the outcome variables quality of life, depressivity, mobility/frailty, cognitive functioning and blood biomarkers (neurofilament light chain (NfL), β-amyloid) will be investigated in 800 older individuals (age: ~72 years). All subjects have been extensively examined every 2 years since 2009 (e.g. medical history, neuropsychological and neurological expert examination, lifestyle, mobility/quantitative motor skills, biomarkers (e.g. NfL, β-amyloid, APOE genotype)) as part of the prospective TREND study (www.Trend-Studie.de; Tübingen evaluation of Risk factors for Early detection of NeuroDegeneration). During the funding period, these variables as well as additional psychosocial factors, social networks, perceived loneliness and stress, pandemic-related worries, tested SARS-CoV-2 antibody and reported immunization status, will be collected repeatedly. Data will be collected at ≥2 onsite/at-home visits (with approved hygiene/safety measures) and 3 postal/online surveys (piloted in May 2020), and may flexibly adapt to new restrictions with increased postal/online surveying. Objectives comprise the investigation of 1) longitudinal changes in outcome variables, 2) their modulation through resilience, coping and psychosocial, demographic and biological factors, 3) the effects of (new) restrictions and (informed) antibody status/vaccination on longitudinal outcomes, 4) interdependencies between variables and changes thereof through restrictions, antibodies, and vaccination, and 5) potential ascertainment bias and differences in data acquisition methods and best statistical adjustment. To address these objectives, comprehensive hypothesis-driven and exploratory statistical analyses will be performed using longitudinal structural equation models. The findings can inform policy making of future restriction/protection strategies for elderly citizens and the general public regarding the interplay of (psychosocial) factors influencing quality of life and health during this pandemic and beyond.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
