Loneliness is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

Luchetti, Martina; Terracciano, Antonio; Aschwanden, Damaris; Lee, Ji Hun; Stéphan, Yannick; Sutin, Angelina R.

doi:10.1002/gps.5304

Cited by 70 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Social function may deteriorate due to conversion to dementia; however, the limitation and decrease of social activities may adversely affect the progression of dementia. This has been reported consistently in various studies [14-16, 22, 45-48]. Recently, a meta-analysis [49] concluded that social relationship factors that represent a lack of social interaction are associated with incident dementia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Characteristics of Individuals Who Converted to Dementia during a 5-Year Follow-Up

Yun

Jung

et al. 2020

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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Introduction: Early diagnosis of dementia is important; however, the diagnostic criteria for the preclinical stage of dementia, including biomarkers and pathophysiological markers, are not suitable for application in patients in real-world clinical settings. One potential noninvasive method to predict the risk of dementia conversion is the neuropsychological test. Therefore, in this study, we examined the results of various assessments, such as comprehensive neuropsychological tests, and the daily function of participants who were evaluated periodically for 5 years. Methods: All participants were outpatients or inpatients with subjective cognitive complaints, who visited a local university hospital for neuropsychiatric evaluation, between January 2011 and January 2019. Of a total of 1,652 subjects who underwent initial screening during this period, 107 were nondemented individuals. These participants underwent periodic comprehensive cognitive tests for up to 5 years. Survival and factors affecting dementia conversion were analyzed using the time-dependent Cox regression analysis. Assessment items included demographic information, including age, sex, and education; 5 cognitive domains of a comprehensive neuropsychological test including memory, language, attention, visuospatial functions, and frontal (executive) function; Barthel’s activities of daily living; the mini-mental state examination findings; and clinical dementia rating (CDR) scores. Results: This study included 61 participants (21 women and 40 men) who developed dementia during the study period. Verification of the cognitive variables affecting dementia conversion revealed that better memory was associated with a lower risk of conversion (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.614, p = 0.005) and higher attention was associated with a higher risk of conversion (HR = 1.602, p = 0.023). In the analysis of the subscales of the CDR, a higher community affairs score (i.e., less social activities) was associated with a higher risk of conversion (HR = 10.814, p = 0.028). Conclusion: Individuals with prominent memory decline or problems with social activities should be carefully observed for dementia conversion. Cognitive intervention techniques for cognitive stimulation, such as social and leisure activities, as well as cognitive training need to be actively used for patients in whom dementia is a concern.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Characteristics of Individuals Who Converted to Dementia during a 5-Year Follow-Up

Yun

Jung

et al. 2020

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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“…Finally, Wilson and colleagues found in a sample of 529 adults from the US that loneliness was associated with a higher risk of developing MCI (HR 1.53 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.13–2.07]) 12 . Other recent studies have also found similar findings in Europe 13 and China 14–16 . However, in the Cambridge City Over‐75s Cohort Study ( n = 3713), it was found that loneliness does not exert long‐term harmful effects on cognitive function among the oldest old 17 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Is loneliness associated with mild cognitive impairment in low‐ and middle‐income countries?

Smıth

Bloska

Jacob

et al. 2021

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

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Background Loneliness may be a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment but studies on this topic are scarce, particularly from low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between loneliness and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in six LMICs (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa). Methods Cross‐sectional, community‐based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. The definition of MCI was based on the National Institute on Ageing‐Alzheimer's Association criteria. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and meta‐analysis were conducted to assess associations. Results The final analytical sample consisted of 19,092 and 13,623 individuals aged 50–64 years (middle‐aged adults) and ≥65 years (older adults), respectively. Among the middle‐aged, overall, loneliness was associated with a non‐significant 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.93–2.21) times higher odds for MCI although significant associations were observed in China (OR = 1.51; 95%CI = 1.08–2.09) and South Africa (OR = 3.87; 95%CI = 1.72–8.71). As for older adults, overall, there was a significant association between loneliness and MCI (OR = 1.52; 95%CI = 1.12–2.07). Conclusion In this large representative sample of middle‐aged and older adults from multiple LMICs, findings suggest that loneliness is associated with MCI. It may be prudent to consider reducing loneliness in low‐economic settings to aid in the prevention of MCI and ultimately dementia.

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“…Past studies have explored the relationship of loneliness, isolation and living alone on the health and well-being of older people. LIL may cause depression, cardiovascular disease, reduced quality of life, low self-rated health, anxiety, reduced cognitive or physical function, frailty, insomnia, mortality, suicide, and work disability in older adults [ 1 , 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Such negative effects may be worse for individuals with lower education, lower income, and disability [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hsu

2020

IJERPH

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Background: Loneliness, isolation, and living alone are emerging as critical issues in older people’s health and well-being, but the effects are not consistent. The purpose of this study was to examine the clustering of loneliness, isolation, and living alone, the risk factors and the associations with psychological well-being. Methods: The data were collected from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey by face-to-face interviews and included a community-based sample (n = 3553). Loneliness, isolation, and living arrangement were analyzed by cluster analysis to define Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters, and linear regression was used to examine association of clusters with psychological well-being. Results: Five clusters of older adults were identified and named as follows: Not Lonely-Connected-Others (53.4%), Not Lonely-Isolated-Others (26.6%), Not Lonely-Alone (5.0%), Lonely-Connected (8.1%), and Lonely-Isolated-Others (6.9%). Demographics, financial satisfaction, physical function, family relationship, and social participation were related to the Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Compared with the Not Lonely-Connected-Others cluster, the Lonely-Connected cluster and Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction, and the Not Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster reported lower life satisfaction; the Not Lonely-Alone cluster was not different. Discussion: Loneliness and isolation are negatively associated with psychological well-being, and living arrangement is not the determinant to loneliness or isolation. Older adults are suggested to strengthen their informal social support, and the government may encourage social care and create an age friendly environment to reduce loneliness and isolation.

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Loneliness is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

Cited by 70 publications

References 45 publications

Characteristics of Individuals Who Converted to Dementia during a 5-Year Follow-Up

Characteristics of Individuals Who Converted to Dementia during a 5-Year Follow-Up

Is loneliness associated with mild cognitive impairment in low‐ and middle‐income countries?

Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study

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