Influence of social network characteristics on cognition and functional status with aging
Open accessAbstract
Objective: To determine whether more frequent engagement in larger social networks, and more emotional support protect against cognitive and functional decline with aging. Methods: We examined the influence of social networks on cognition and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) over a median interval of 10.9 years. Data were from the Baltimore follow‐up of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, a community‐based sample of adults in eastern Baltimore. Eight hundred and seventy‐four participants completed cognitive testing at both the third and fourth study waves (1993–1996 and 2003–2004) on the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a delayed word recall task. Functional status at both waves was self‐reported on the Lawton‐Brody IADL scale. Social network characteristics, assessed at the third study wave, included network size, frequency of contact, and emotional support. Results: In cross‐sectional analyses at wave 3, larger networks were associated with higher MMSE and better delayed recall scores. This association persisted after adjustment for covariates. More emotional support was associated with better functional status, before and after adjustment. By contrast, social networks were not longitudinally associated with cognitive change, with two counter‐intuitive exceptions: more frequent contact and more emotional support were associated with worse delayed recall and IADL scores after adjustment. Conclusions: There was no evidence of a longitudinal association between social networks and cognition or IADLs, although a clear cross‐sectional association exists. Together, these findings suggest the emergence of social isolation in individuals declining in cognition and functioning, rather than a protective effect of social networks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Green et al. (2008) found a cross-sectional association between social networks and cognition and functional status in old age, but not a longitudinal association.
“Green et al. (2008) found a cross-sectional association between social networks and cognition and functional status in old age, but not a longitudinal association.”
From Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review (2017) · cites this paper as Green et al. 2008
Earlier studies on social factors and cognitive decline in middle-and older-aged adults have commonly followed a single measurement approach.
“Earlier studies on social factors and cognitive decline in middle-and older-aged adults have commonly followed a single measurement approach.[13][14][15]”
From Are loneliness and social isolation associated with cognitive decline? (2019) · cites this paper as [13]
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- Authors
- Green, A. F., Rebok, G., & Lyketsos, C. G.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lyketsos, Constantine G.
- Venue
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 972-978
- ISSN
- 0885-6230 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1166
- PMC
- PMC2650477
- OpenAlex
- W2013283005
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 2.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Johns Hopkins University
- National Institutes of Health
- U.S. Public Health Service (P01-AGO5146)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH47447, R01MH047447)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA026652)
- National Center for Research Resources (5 T32 RR023523, P20RR023523)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- social networks, social isolation, cognitive decline, functional decline, instrumental activities of daily living, emotional support, network size, contact frequency, aging, older adults, Epidemiologic Catchment Area study
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Aged, Aging, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Life Style, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Mental Recall, Social Support, Baltimore, Geriatric Assessment
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