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Objectives: This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation among informal carers of individuals with dementia and to identify potential influencing factors. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across 10 electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Chinese Biomedical, China National Knowledge Internet, and WANFANG. Our search strategy covered the inception of the databases up to September 16, 2023, with an updated search conducted on March 8, 2024. Prevalence estimates of loneliness and social isolation, presented with 95% confidence intervals, were synthesized through meta‐analysis. Subgroup analyses and meta‐regression were employed to explore potential moderating variables and heterogeneity. Results: The study encompassed 27 research papers involving 11,134 informal carers from 17 different countries. The pooled prevalence of loneliness among informal carers of individuals with dementia was 50.8% (95% CI: 41.8%–59.8%), while the pooled prevalence of social isolation was 37.1% (95% CI: 26.7%–47.6%). Subgroup analyses and meta‐regression indicated that various factors significantly influenced the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation. These factors included the caregiving setting, study design, the intensity of loneliness, geographical location (continent), data collection time, and the choice of assessment tools. Conclusions: This study underscores the substantial prevalence of loneliness and social isolation among informal carers of individuals with dementia. It suggests that policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize the development of targeted interventions and support systems to alleviate loneliness and social isolation within this vulnerable population. Key points: Informal carers of people with dementia contend with unique circumstances that render them susceptible to both loneliness and social isolation.There is a significant prevalence of loneliness and social isolation in informal carers of individuals with dementia.Several significant moderators influence the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation among informal carers of individuals with dementia.Moderator analysis can guide targeted interventions and support systems for at‐risk informal carers of people with dementia to alleviate loneliness and social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to examine the relationship of pain with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts with depressive symptoms among adults aged ≥50 years from six low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa). Methods: Cross‐sectional, community‐based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health were analyzed. Self‐reported information on past 12‐month suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among people with depressive symptoms was collected. Pain was assessed with the question "Overall in the last 30 days, how much of bodily aches or pain did you have?" With answer options: "none", "mild", "moderate", "severe/extreme". Multivariable logistic regression was done to assess associations. Results: Data on 34,129 adults aged ≥50 years (mean [SD] age 62.4 [16.0] years; males 47.9%) were analyzed. Compared to no pain, mild, moderate, and severe/extreme pain were associated with 2.83 (95% CI = 1.51–5.28), 4.01 (95% CI = 2.38–6.76), and 12.26 (95% CI = 6.44–23.36) times higher odds for suicidal ideation. For suicide attempt, only severe/extreme pain was associated with significantly increased odds (OR = 4.68; 95% CI = 1.67–13.08). Conclusions: In this large sample of older adults from multiple LMICs, pain was strongly associated with suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts with depressive symptoms. Future studies should assess whether addressing pain among older people in LMICs may lead to reduction in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Key points: Thirty‐four thousand one hundred twenty‐nine adults aged ≥50 years (mean [SD] age 62.4 [16.0] years; males 47.9%).Pain was strongly associated with suicidal thoughts.Pain was strongly associated with suicide attempts.Future studies should assess whether addressing pain may reduce suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline, and to further explore the potential regulatory role of education, socio‐economic status (SES), and social or intellectual activity in this relationship. Methods: 6197 participants aged 45–75 years with four repeated measures data from 2011 to 2018 were included. A mixed‐effect model was used to explore the relationship between alcohol consumption and the rate of change in cognitive decline, a latent class growth mixed model (LCGMM) was applied to determine the potential trajectory of cognitive decline, and finally, the mediating and moderating analyses were used to determine the regulatory effect of all four variables on the relationship between alcohol consumption and potential trajectory. Results: Compared to never‐drinkers, moderate alcohol consumption was a protective factor for overall cognitive function (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04–0.20, p < 0.001), but there was no statistical correlation with the decline rate of cognitive function. And this protective effect was no longer significant after additional adjustments for education, SES, social and intellectual activity. The LCGMM model divided participants into two trajectories, a high‐level‐to‐decline group including 79.75% of participants (quadratic: β [SE]: −0.90 [0.07], p < 0.001), and a low‐level‐to‐decline group including 20.25% participants (linear: β [SE]: −3.05 [0.49], p < 0.001). With the latter as the reference, SES played a reverse regulation role in the harmful effect of heavy drinking on cognitive trajectories (odd ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.93, p < 0.05). Social and intellectual activities played a negative mediating role in the harmful effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive trajectories (light: OR = 0.96, p < 0.001; moderate: OR = 0.96, p < 0.001; heavy: OR = 0.97, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Alcohol itself has no protective effect on the decline of longitudinal cognitive trajectory. But the regulatory effect of SES, social and intellectual activities slows down the harm of alcohol consumption on the decline of cognitive function. Clinical Trial Registration: The data used in this study are from publicly available databases. They are retrospective cohort studies without any intervention. Therefore, no clinical trial registration has been conducted. Key points: Previous results on the association between alcohol consumption and cognitive function are inconsistent, and the role of socio‐economic status (SES), social and intellectual activities in this association has not been explored.In this study of 6197 Chinese people aged 45–75, it was observed that drinking is a risk factor for the decline of the longitudinal cognitive trajectory, and the negative regulatory effects of SES, social and intellectual activities slows down the harm of alcohol consumption on the decline of cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]