Psychosocial and health-related effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, antibodies and vaccination in older people (CORO-TREND)

SARS-CoV-2 infections can cause serious and diverse health problems. In comparison, however, the restrictions of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the population level affect significantly more people in Germany. Isolation and everyday restrictions affect behavior, emotion processing, social networks and mobility in particular. As a COVID-19 risk group, seniors are often particularly protected from SARS-CoV-2 infections, but also restricted. It is still unclear which factors decide which seniors will particularly suffer from the limitations in the long term or which are resilient and can cope well with them. The effects of the personal announcement of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody status and of (possible) vaccinations on psychosocial aspects of life are also unknown. In the CORO-TREND project, longitudinal changes (11 years before, 3 years after the pandemic outbreak) of the target variables are determined Quality of life, depression, mobility / frailty, cognition and blood biomarkers (neurofilament light chain (NfL), β-amyloid (Aβ)) were examined in 800 elderly people (age: ~ 72 years). These have been extensively examined every 2 years since 2009 in the prospective TREND study (Tübingen evaluation of risk factors for the early detection of neurodegeneration) (e.g. anamnesis, neuropsychology, neurological examination, lifestyle, mobility / quantitative motor skills, biomarkers such as NfL, Aβ, APOE genotype). During the funding period, data on these and additional psychosocial factors, social networks, loneliness, stress and worries, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and vaccination status should be collected repeatedly. The data is collected during ≥2 on-site / home visits (with hygiene / safety measures already approved) and 4 post / online surveys (pilot test in May 2020) and can be flexibly adapted to new restrictions through increased post / online surveys be adjusted. The research objectives are 1) the longitudinal changes in the named target variables, 2) their modulation through resilience, coping and psychosocial, demographic and biological factors, 3) the effects of (new) restrictions and the (communicated) antibody / vaccination status, 4) the dependencies between these variables, and 5) possible biases in data acquisition are investigated. Comprehensive hypothesis-testing and exploratory statistical analyzes using longitudinal structural equation models are to be carried out for this purpose. The results can be of great importance for political decision-making on future restriction / protection measures for older citizens, as well as for the general public regarding the interplay of (psychosocial) factors influencing quality of life and health during the current pandemic and beyond.