Yates Jennifer A, Clare Linda, Woods Robert T
Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Department of Psychology and PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
BMC Geriatr. 2017 Jul 13;17(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s12877-017-0542-0.
Social networks can change with age, for reasons that are adaptive or unwanted. Social engagement is beneficial to both mental health and cognition, and represents a potentially modifiable factor. Consequently this study explored this association and assessed whether the relationship between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mood problems was mediated by social networks.
This study includes an analysis of data from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study Wales (CFAS Wales). CFAS Wales Phase 1 data were collected from 2010 to 2013 by conducting structured interviews with older people aged over 65 years of age living in urban and rural areas of Wales, and included questions that assessed cognitive functioning, mood, and social networks. Regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between individual variables and the mediating role of social networks.
Having richer social networks was beneficial to both mood and cognition. Participants in the MCI category had weaker social networks than participants without cognitive impairment, whereas stronger social networks were associated with a decrease in the odds of experiencing mood problems, suggesting that they may offer a protective effect against anxiety and depression. Regression analyses revealed that social networks are a significant mediator of the relationship between MCI and mood problems.
These findings are important, as mood problems are a risk factor for progression from MCI to dementia, so interventions that increase and strengthen social networks may have beneficial effects on slowing the progression of cognitive decline.
社交网络会随着年龄而变化，其原因可能是适应性的，也可能是不良的。社交参与对心理健康和认知都有益，并且是一个潜在的可调节因素。因此，本研究探讨了这种关联，并评估了社交网络是否介导了轻度认知障碍（MCI）与情绪问题之间的关系。
本研究包括对威尔士认知功能与衰老研究（CFAS Wales）的数据进行分析。CFAS Wales第一阶段的数据是在2010年至2013年期间，通过对居住在威尔士城乡地区65岁以上老年人进行结构化访谈收集的，其中包括评估认知功能、情绪和社交网络的问题。回归分析用于研究个体变量之间的关联以及社交网络的中介作用。
拥有更丰富的社交网络对情绪和认知都有益。MCI组参与者的社交网络比无认知障碍的参与者更弱，而更强的社交网络与经历情绪问题的几率降低相关，这表明社交网络可能对焦虑和抑郁具有保护作用。回归分析显示，社交网络是MCI与情绪问题之间关系的重要中介。
这些发现很重要，因为情绪问题是MCI进展为痴呆症的一个风险因素，因此增加和加强社交网络的干预措施可能对减缓认知衰退的进展具有有益影响。
