Social capital: Implications for neurology

Abstract

Social capital (SC) is a broad term that encompasses the many resources derived from social connections. The contemporary study of SC in public health has deep roots in the related fields of sociology, economics, and politics. Its multidisciplinary nature and the varying potential ways it could affect individuals have resulted in different but overlapping models to approach SC in the health field. There are currently no standardized measures of SC, and even more challenging its impact on health outcomes seems to vary according to the level of analysis. Despite the accumulating evidence that supports a protective effect of SC on mental and physical health, and mortality, not enough attention has been paid to the potential drawbacks of SC. The role of SC in neurological disease is just beginning to be explored. Concerted efforts are needed to ensure that empirical evidence on SC could be properly translated into interventions for health‐promoting purposes. In this paper, we review the current state of scientific knowledge on the subject of SC, with a focus on its application in the field of neurology.

Neighborhood‐based social capital and cognitive function among older adults in five low‐ and middle‐income countries: Evidence from the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health

“…Lastly, consistent with previous findings from high‐income countries, we found community participation was associated with higher level of cognitive function . It is possible that by encouraging more social participation within the neighborhood, the active ingredient of “doing” could prevent cognitive decline.…”

“…To improve the cognitive function of older adults, it is increasingly recognized that preserving social capital in the neighborhood serves as a crucial ingredient . Neighborhood‐based social capital has emerged as a possible target for prevention and policy efforts .…”

“…The negative effect of the neighborhood on cognition may be intensified by difficulties in accessing outside resources and interacting in the neighborhood due to lack of trust and safety . Structural social capital, which captures peoples' objective behaviors (eg, community participation), is relevant to the encouragement of tight social networks and collective efficacy to undertake collective actions . The structural social capital plays a strong role in determining the social ties and social participation among older adults, which can influence cognitive function and psychological wellbeing .…”

“…Structural social capital, which captures peoples' objective behaviors (eg, community participation), is relevant to the encouragement of tight social networks and collective efficacy to undertake collective actions . The structural social capital plays a strong role in determining the social ties and social participation among older adults, which can influence cognitive function and psychological wellbeing . A rich body of research has found that structural aspects of neighborhood‐based social capital, such as community participation and social activity, are positively associated with cognitive function among older adults .…”

“…However, most of these previous studies have been conducted in high‐income countries, including Europe, North America, and Japan . The association between neighborhood‐based social capital and cognitive function is understudied in LMICs, although LMICs are home to more than 80% of the world population.…”