Are loneliness and social isolation associated with cognitive decline? Evidence from a longitudinal population-based study
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of loneliness and social isolation on cognition over a 3-year follow-up period in middle- and older-aged adults. Methods: Data from a Spanish nationally representative sample were analyzed (n = 1691; aged 50 years or older). Loneliness, social i...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2019 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) |
| Repositorio: | Docta Complutense |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/99900 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/99900 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Cognitive function Loneliness Older adults Population-based study Social isolation Psicología (Psicología) 61 Psicología |
| Sumario: | Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of loneliness and social isolation on cognition over a 3-year follow-up period in middle- and older-aged adults. Methods: Data from a Spanish nationally representative sample were analyzed (n = 1691; aged 50 years or older). Loneliness, social isolation, and cognition (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency, forward digit span, backward digit span, and a composite cognitive score) were assessed both at baseline and at follow-up. Adjusted generalized estimating equations models were performed. Results: Loneliness was significantly associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and backward digit span (B = -0.14 to B = -3.16; P < .05) and with a more rapid decline from baseline to follow-up in two out of six cognitive tests. Higher social isolation was associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, verbal fluency, and forward digit span (B = -0.06 to B = -0.85; P < .05). The effect of loneliness and social isolation on cognition remained significant after the exclusion of individuals with depression. Conclusions: Both loneliness and social isolation are associated with decreased cognitive function over a 3-year follow-up period. The development of interventions that include the enhancement of social participation and the maintenance of emotionally supportive relationships might contribute to cognitive decline prevention and risk reduction. |
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