Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH), School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2018 Aug 17;13(8):e0201008. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201008. eCollection 2018.
There is evidence to suggest that social isolation is associated with poor cognitive health, although findings are contradictory. One reason for inconsistency in reported findings may be a lack of consideration of underlying mechanisms that could influence this relationship. Cognitive reserve is a theoretical concept that may account for the role of social isolation and its association with cognitive outcomes in later life. Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationship between social isolation and cognition in later life, and to consider the role of cognitive reserve in this relationship. Baseline and two year follow-up data from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study-Wales (CFAS-Wales) were analysed. Social isolation was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6), cognitive function was assessed using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), and cognitive reserve was assessed using a proxy measure of education, occupational complexity, and cognitive activity. Linear regression modelling was used to assess the relationship between social isolation and cognition. To assess the role of cognitive reserve in this relationship, moderation analysis was used to test for interaction effects. After controlling for age, gender, education, and physically limiting health conditions, social isolation was associated with cognitive function at baseline and two year follow-up. Cognitive reserve moderated this association longitudinally. Findings suggest that maintaining a socially active lifestyle in later life may enhance cognitive reserve and benefit cognitive function. This has important implications for interventions that may target social isolation to improve cognitive function.
有证据表明，社交孤立与认知健康状况不佳有关，尽管研究结果存在矛盾。造成报告结果不一致的一个原因可能是没有考虑到可能影响这种关系的潜在机制。认知储备是一个理论概念，它可以解释社交孤立及其与晚年认知结果的关系。因此，我们旨在研究社交孤立与晚年认知之间的关系，并考虑认知储备在这种关系中的作用。对来自认知功能和衰老研究-威尔士（CFAS-Wales）的基线和两年随访数据进行了分析。使用卢本社交网络量表-6（LSNS-6）评估社交孤立程度，使用剑桥认知测验（CAMCOG）评估认知功能，使用教育、职业复杂性和认知活动的替代指标评估认知储备。线性回归模型用于评估社交孤立与认知之间的关系。为了评估认知储备在这种关系中的作用，采用调节分析来检验交互效应。在控制年龄、性别、教育和身体限制健康状况后，社交孤立与基线和两年随访时的认知功能相关。认知储备对这种关联具有纵向调节作用。研究结果表明，在晚年保持社交活跃的生活方式可能会增强认知储备并有益于认知功能。这对可能以社交孤立为目标来改善认知功能的干预措施具有重要意义。
