The Icelandic Gerontological Research Center, The National University Hospital of Iceland, Tungata 26, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Faculty of Social Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Sep;34(9):2155-2163. doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02150-8. Epub 2022 Jun 10.
This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between social network (SN) and the risk of lower cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia among cognitively normal individuals 65 years and older.
Data from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) Reykjavik Study on 2816 participants (aged 65 to 96 years) were used to examine the associations using multiple logistic and linear regression models. SN included questions on frequency of contact with family and friends as well as information on marital status, resulting in a score ranging from 0 (poor social network) to 3 (good social network). Cognitive function outcomes included the speed of processing (SP), executive function (EF) and memory function (MF). MCI and dementia were diagnosed using a detailed assessment according to international guidelines.
At baseline 0.5, 7.0, 41.7 and 50.8% reported a score of 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. During a mean follow-up time of 5.2 years, 7.1% (n = 188) of cognitively intact participants developed MCI and 3.0% (n = 79) developed dementia. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated that participants who had low SN were significantly more likely to have declines in MF (β = - 0.533, P = 0.014) compared to high SN. Social networks were not independently associated with the decline of SP and EF during follow-up. According to fully adjusted models using logistic regression, SN was significantly associated with incidence risk of MCI (OR = 2.030, P = 0.014 and OR = 1.847 P = 0.001). These associations were largely independent of other lifestyle factors, depression and genetic disposition.
Community-dwelling older adults who have poor social networks have a higher risk of declining memory function as well as a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment than older adults who have a higher social network. This study included numbers of relevant covariates in the study analysis, thereby significantly contributing to the literature on cognitive aging.
本研究旨在探讨社交网络（SN）与 65 岁及以上认知正常个体认知功能下降、轻度认知障碍（MCI）和痴呆风险之间的纵向关联。
使用来自 Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) Reykjavik 研究的 2816 名参与者（年龄 65 至 96 岁）的数据，使用多逻辑回归和线性回归模型来检验关联。SN 包括与家人和朋友联系的频率以及婚姻状况的信息，得出的分数范围为 0（社交网络较差）至 3（社交网络较好）。认知功能结果包括处理速度（SP）、执行功能（EF）和记忆功能（MF）。MCI 和痴呆症根据国际指南的详细评估进行诊断。
在基线时，分别有 0.5、7.0、41.7 和 50.8%的参与者报告分数为 0、1、2 和 3。在平均 5.2 年的随访期间，7.1%（n=188）认知正常的参与者发展为 MCI，3.0%（n=79）发展为痴呆症。纵向分析表明，社交网络较差的参与者记忆功能下降的可能性显著更高（β=-0.533，P=0.014）。在随访期间，社交网络与 SP 和 EF 的下降无关。根据使用逻辑回归的完全调整模型，SN 与 MCI 的发病风险显著相关（OR=2.030，P=0.014 和 OR=1.847，P=0.001）。这些关联在很大程度上独立于其他生活方式因素、抑郁和遗传倾向。
与社交网络较好的老年人相比，社交网络较差的社区居住老年人记忆功能下降的风险更高，轻度认知障碍的风险也更高。本研究在研究分析中纳入了大量相关协变量，从而为认知老化的文献做出了重要贡献。
