scholarly journals The Longitudinal Association Between Social Isolation and Cognitive Decline Among Canadian Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 240-240
Author(s):  
François Béland ◽  
Fereshteh Mehrabi

Abstract Social isolation is an emerging public health concern with an emphasis on its potential preventive impact on cognitive impairment. We hypothesize that change in social isolation is associated with cognitive decline over two years. Latent growth models were used to test the hypothesis using data from the FRéLE longitudinal study among 1643 Canadian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and over. We assessed social isolation using social participation, social networks, and support from various social ties. We found that less contact with friends and children, less social support from friends, children, and partner, and the absence of partner were significantly associated with cognitive decline. Higher baseline social participation was related to the lower rate of cognitive decline over time. Fewer contacts with grandchildren were associated with cognitive decline over time. Our study suggests that public health policies in age-friendly cities and intergenerational contacts may promote cognitive health in older adults.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 173-174
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽  
François Béland

Abstract Social isolation and frailty are global public health issues that may lead to poor health outcomes. We tested the two following hypotheses: 1) changes in social isolation and frailty are associated with adverse health outcomes over two years, 2) the associations between social isolation and health vary across different levels of frailty. We estimated a series of latent growth models to test our hypotheses using data from the FRéLE longitudinal study among 1643 Canadian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and over. Missing data were handled by pattern mixture models with the assumption of missing not at random. We measured social isolation through social participation, social networks, and social support from different social ties. We assessed frailty using Fried’s criteria. Our results revealed that higher frailty at baseline was associated with a higher rate of comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline over two years. Less social participation at baseline was associated with comorbidity, depression, and changes in cognitive decline. Less social support from friends, children, partner, and family at baseline was associated with comorbidity, cognitive decline, and changes in depression. Fewer contacts with grandchildren were related to cognitive decline over time. The associations of receiving less support from partner with depression and participating less in social activities with comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline were higher among frail or prefrail than robust older adults over time. This longitudinal study suggests that intimate connectedness and social participation may ameliorate health status in frail older populations, highlighting the importance of age-friendly city policies.


Author(s):  
Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽  
François Béland

This research investigated the effects of social isolation on frailty and health outcomes and tested whether these associations varied across different levels of frailty. We performed a multivariate analysis of data from the first wave of the FRéLE study among 1,643 Canadian older adults aged 65 years and over. We assessed social isolation using social participation, social networks, and support from various social ties, namely, friends, children, extended family, and partner. Frailty predicted disability, comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Less social participation was associated with IADLs, depression, and cognitive decline. The absence of friends was associated with depression and cognitive impairment. Less social support from children and partner was related to comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Overall, social isolation is linked to mental health, rather than physical health. The associations of having no siblings, receiving less support from friends, and participating less in social activities with ADL limitations, depression, and cognitive decline were higher among frail than pre-frail and robust older adults. This study corroborates the pivotal role of social connectedness, particularly the quality of relationships, on the mental health of older adults. Public health policies on social relationships are paramount to ameliorate the health status of frail older adults.


Author(s):  
Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽  
François Béland

This research investigated the effects of social isolation on frailty and health outcomes and tested whether these associations varied across different levels of frailty. We performed a multivariate analysis of the first wave of Frailty: A longitudinal study of its expressions (FRéLE) among 1643 Canadian older adults aged 65 years and over. We assessed social isolation using social participation, social networks, and support from various social ties, namely, friends, children, extended family, and partner. Frailty was associated with disability, comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Less social participation was associated with limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), depression, and cognitive decline. The absence of friends was associated with depression and cognitive impairment. Less social support from children and partner was related to comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Overall, social isolation is linked to mental health rather than physical health. The associations of having no siblings, receiving less support from friends, and participating less in social activities with ADL limitations, depression, and cognitive decline were higher among frail than prefrail and robust older adults. This study corroborates the pivotal role of social connectedness, particularly the quality of relationships, on the mental health of older adults. Public health policies on social relationships are paramount to ameliorate the health status of frail older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 269-270
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽  
François Béland

Abstract Previous studies have reported that social isolation is a predictor of adverse outcomes, which is also closely associated with frailty. Very little is known about the moderating role of frailty on the impact of social isolation on health. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the first wave of the FRéLE longitudinal study, consisting of 1643 Canadian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and over. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the interaction between social isolation and frailty on health, controlling for socioeconomic characteristics and life habits. Social isolation was measured through social participation, social networks and support for different social ties namely, friends, children, extended family, and partner. In contrast to Berkman’s theory on the impact of social isolation on health, we found that frailty had no modifying role on the effects of social isolation on health. Frailty was significantly associated with all adverse outcomes. Less social participation was associated with ADLs, IADLs, depression and cognitive decline. The absence of friends was associated with depression and cognitive decline. Less support from children and having no children were associated with ADLs, comorbidity and depression. Fewer contact with extended family and having no family members were notably associated with ADLs and IADLs. Those who received less support from a partner or had no partner were more depressed and had more difficulties in performing IADLs. This study suggests that older adults who participate in social activities and have social ties, feel better with respect to physical health than those who feel isolated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2308
Author(s):  
Pascale Heins ◽  
Lizzy M. M. Boots ◽  
Wei Qi Koh ◽  
An Neven ◽  
Frans R. J. Verhey ◽  
...  

Social isolation in community-dwelling older adults with dementia is a growing health issue that can negatively affect health and well-being. To date, little attention has been paid to the role of technology in improving their social participation. This systematic review aims to provide a systematic overview of the effects of technological interventions that target social participation in community-dwelling older adults with and without dementia. The scientific databases Medline (PubMed), PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched and independently screened by two reviewers. Results were synthesized narratively. The methodological quality of included studies was independently assessed by two reviewers. In total, 36 studies of varying methodological quality were identified. Most studies evaluated social networking technology and ICT training programs. Three studies focused on people with dementia. Quantitative findings showed limited effects on loneliness, social isolation, and social support. Nevertheless, several benefits related to social participation were reported qualitatively. Social interaction, face-to-face contact, and intergenerational engagement were suggested to be successful elements of technological interventions in improving the social participation of community-dwelling older adults. Rigorous studies with larger sample sizes are highly needed to evaluate the long-term effects of technology on the multidimensional concept of social participation.


Author(s):  
Yuko Yamaguchi ◽  
Masako Yamada ◽  
Elsi Dwi Hapsari ◽  
Hiroya Matsuo

This study aimed to examine the relationship between one’s physical status related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and social isolation, and to identify lifestyle behaviors for the prevention of NCDs associated with social isolation among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate lifestyle behaviors for NCD prevention associated with social isolation in Japanese adults aged 60 years and above in a community setting. Out of 57 participants, 17.5% were not socially participative, 66.7% hardly ever, 29.8% sometimes, and 3.5% often felt loneliness. Non-social participation and loneliness were negatively related to the frequency of vegetable and fruit intake. Additionally, loneliness was positively associated with one’s duration of smoking and current smoking habits, and negatively associated with the frequency of moderate-intensity activities, with marginal significance. Those with non-social participation or loneliness were less likely to eat a healthy diet and live a smoke-free lifestyle. The findings of this study suggest that a mutual health support system in the community and the development of community-based approaches for the prevention of NCDs among Japanese older adults are needed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc MOLET-BENHAMOU ◽  
Kelly VIRECOULON GIUDICI ◽  
Philipe BARRETO ◽  
Yves ROLLAND

Abstract Introduction Long-term use of urate-lowering therapies (ULT) may reduce inflammaging and thus prevent cognitive decline during aging. This article examined the association between long-term use of ULT and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults with spontaneous memory complaints. Material and methods We performed a secondary observational analysis using data of 1,673 participants ≥ 70 years old from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT Study), a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a multidomain intervention, the administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), both, or placebo on cognitive decline. We compared cognitive decline during the 5-year follow-up between three groups according to ULT use: participants treated with ULT during at least 75% of the study period (PT ≥ 75; n = 51), less than 75% (PT < 75; n = 31), and non-treated participants (PNT; n = 1,591). Cognitive function (measured by a composite score) was assessed at baseline, 6 months and every year for 5 years. Linear mixed models were performed and adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis of arterial hypertension or diabetes, baseline composite cognitive score, and MAPT intervention groups. Results After the 5-year follow-up, only non-treated participants presented a significant decline in the cognitive composite score (mean change − 0.173, 95%CI -0.212 to -0.135; p < 0.0001). However, there were no differences in change of the composite cognitive score between groups (adjusted between-group difference for PNT vs. PT < 75: 0.089, 95%CI -0.160 to 0.338, p = 0.484; PNT vs. PT ≥ 75: 0.174, 95%CI -0.042 to 0.391, p = 0.115). Conclusion Use of ULT was not associated with reduced cognitive decline over a 5-year follow-up among community-dwelling older adults at risk of dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 122-122
Author(s):  
Gilbert Gimm ◽  
Mary Lou Pomeroy ◽  
Thomas Cudjoe

Abstract Objective This study examined the prevalence of social isolation and cigarette smoking in a national sample of community-dwelling older adults, and assessed the role of social isolation on the risk of cigarette smoking. Methods Using data from 8,044 participants (age 65+ years) across two waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), we analyzed the prevalence of social isolation in older adults and as a risk factor for cigarette smoking. Social isolation was measured across 4 relationship domains (Cudjoe, 2018) on a scale of 0 to 4, using objective measures of social interactions. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess how social isolation is associated with smoking. Results Preliminary results showed that 18.2% of older adults were socially isolated (3.5% severely isolated) and 7.1% of participants reported current smoking. We found that both social isolation (OR = 2.5, p&lt;.001) and severe isolation (OR = 5.9, p&lt;.001) increased the odds of smoking. Also, older adults with depression (OR = 1.6, p&lt;.01) and dual-eligible beneficiaries (Medicare and Medicaid) with TRICARE coverage (OR = 4.6, p&lt;.05) had greater odds of smoking. However, we did not find evidence that the odds of smoking varied significantly by the number of chronic conditions. Conclusion Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of cigarette smoking among older adults. Smoking may be an important behavior in the pathway between social isolation and its association with morbidity and mortality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 617-617
Author(s):  
Stephanie Richardson ◽  
Corinna Tanner ◽  
Jeremy Yorgason

Abstract Although the likelihood of developing a disability increases with age among all demographics, older adults of hispanic origin are more likely to experience vision and hearing impairment than both their white and black non-hispanic counterparts. Both hearing impairment and vision impairment are known risk factors for social isolation, yet little research has examined this association in Hispanic populations. Using data from 472 Hispanic and 5,186 White participants of the NHATS study, we examined 8-year trajectories of social isolation, along with how sensory impairment was associated with initial levels and change over time. Findings suggest that sensory impairments are linked with steeper increases over time among White participants. Among Hispanics vision and hearing impairments were linked with higher initial levels of social isolation, yet no associations were found across time. It may be that Hispanic older adults maintain social connections across time despite potentially isolating sensory impairments.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhee Shin ◽  
Eunhee Cho

Abstract Background Dementia prevalence is increasing worldwide, and thus, the global impact of cognitive impairment and dementia has become a priority public health issue. This study aimed to assess the patterns of and risk factors for cognitive decline over time in community-dwelling Korean adults aged ≥ 65 years. Methods Older adults with normal cognitive function at baseline in 2006 were evaluated, and changes in their cognitive function were followed over time. The data were obtained from the 2006–2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Cognitive function in 2016 was classified based on the Korean-Mini-Mental State Examination score as normal, mild dementia, and moderate and severe dementia. The t-test, ANOVA, and linear mixed models were used to analyse the patterns and risk factors f cognitive decline over time. Results Of the 1,262 participants examined, 752 maintained normal cognitive function, 267 older adults showed a change from normal cognitive function to mild dementia, and 243 older adults showed a decline from normal cognitive function to moderate and severe dementia between 2006 and 2016. There were significant differences in cognitive function over time among the three groups, and these were influenced by age, gender, education level, religion, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, regular exercise, number of meetings with friends, and depression. The differences have gradually increased over 10 years. Conclusions This study identified the patterns of cognitive decline over time and important factors related to cognitive decline. Individualised interventions such as improving physical function through regular exercise, increasing social activity, and managing depression by early detection and treatment may contribute to maintain cognitive function.


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