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Loneliness, Not Social Support, Is Associated with Cognitive Decline and Dementia Across Two Longitudinal Population-Based Cohorts
- Source :
- Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 85, 295-308, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 85, 1, pp. 295-308, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 85(1), 295-308. IOS Press BV, Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, vol 85, iss 1
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Background: Poor social health is likely associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia; however, studies show inconsistent results. Additionally, few studies separate social health components or control for mental health. Objective: To investigate whether loneliness and social support are independently associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia, and whether depressive symptoms confound the association. Methods: We included 4,514 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study (RS; aged 71±7SD years) followed up to 14 years (median 10.8, interquartile range 7.4–11.6), and 2,112 participants from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K; aged 72±10SD years) followed up to 10 years (mean 5.9±1.6SD). At baseline, participants were free of major depression and scored on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥26 for RS and ≥25 for SNAC-K. We investigated loneliness, perceived social support, and structural social support (specifically marital status and number of children). In both cohorts, dementia was diagnosed and cognitive function was repeatedly assessed with MMSE and a global cognitive factor (g-factor). Results: Loneliness was prospectively associated with a decline in the MMSE in both cohorts. Consistently, persons who were lonely had an increased risk of developing dementia (RS: HR 1.34, 95%CI 1.08–1.67; SNAC-K: HR 2.16, 95%CI 1.12–4.17). Adjustment for depressive symptoms and exclusion of the first 5 years of follow-up did not alter results. Neither perceived or structural social support was associated with cognitive decline or dementia risk. Conclusion: Loneliness, not social support, predicted cognitive decline and incident dementia independently of depressive symptoms.
- Subjects :
- Gerontology
Male
cognition
Aging
Alzheimer`s disease Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience [Radboudumc 1]
Neurodegenerative
Alzheimer's Disease
depressive symptoms
Risk Factors
Prevalence
80 and over
Longitudinal Studies
Cognitive decline
Netherlands
Aged, 80 and over
education.field_of_study
Depression
General Neuroscience
Loneliness
Cognition
General Medicine
Middle Aged
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Mental Health
Social Isolation
Neurological
Female
Cognitive Sciences
medicine.symptom
Population
Clinical Sciences
Healthcare improvement science Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 18]
Social support
All institutes and research themes of the Radboud University Medical Center
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Clinical Research
Behavioral and Social Science
medicine
loneliness
Acquired Cognitive Impairment
Dementia
Humans
Cognitive Dysfunction
Social determinants of health
education
interpersonal relations
Proportional Hazards Models
Aged
Sweden
Neurology & Neurosurgery
business.industry
Prevention
Neurosciences
Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
social support
medicine.disease
Mental health
Brain Disorders
Good Health and Well Being
Geriatrics and Gerontology
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13872877
- Volume :
- 85
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....328ae896c11171166cae83ac5c8853a7