Association of loneliness, social isolation, and daily cognitive function in Mexican older adults living in community during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. Loneliness and social isolation are known risk factors for cognitive decline; their effect in older adults (OA) after COVID-19 lockdown is emerging. Objective. To establish an association between loneliness and social isolation, with daily cognitive function in Mexican OA during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method. Cross-sectional study, derived from the cohort “The impact of COVID 19 on well-being, cognition, and discrimination among older adults in the United States and Latin America”, which included 308 OA recruited between March-August 2020 whose daily cognitive function were determined with the Everyday Cognition Scale (E-Cog) as dichotomized score (cut point: 1.31 for normal cognition). Loneliness and social isolation were binomial variables. Results. The mean age was 65.4 ± 7.9 years, 75.7% were women. The mean continuous E-Cog score was 57.4 (SD = ± 19.1), 49.1% had a score () 1.31 (normal cognition), while 50.9% had a higher score (cognitive impairment). Eighty four percent of participants reported loneliness, 79.9% reported social isolation. Multivariate regression model showed a negative and statistically significant association between social isolation and loneliness and E-Cog, adjusted by age, sex and education level (β = -.046, 95% CI = [-.8, -.013], p = .007; β = -.16, 95% CI = [-.08, -.018], p = .003), and a positive association with subjective memory complaint (β = .81, 95% CI = [-.16, -.11], p = () .001). Discussion and conclusion. These data suggest the need for increased vigilance of those who have loneliness and social isolation due to its potential deleterious effect on cognitive function.

Abuse and other factors related to depression in older Ecuadorian adults

“…We found no statistically significant association with health perception ( P = 0.093) or place of residence ( P = 0.075). Depression has been linked to chronic inflammation, persistent activation of glucocorticoids, and hypercortisolism, affecting cognitive function 36 . It also reduces monoamine levels like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, creating a cycle of depression affecting cognitive state 37 …”