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Kang JW, Oremus M, Dubin J, Tyas SL, Oga-Omenka C, Golberg M. Exploring the differential impacts of social isolation, loneliness, and their combination on the memory of an aging population: A 6-year longitudinal study of the CLSA. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 125:105483. [PMID: 38788370 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Memory plays a crucial role in cognitive health. Social isolation (SI) and loneliness (LON) are recognized risk factors for global cognition, although their combined effects on memory have been understudied in the literature. This study used three waves of data over six years from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging to examine whether SI and LON are individually and jointly associated with memory in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (n = 14,208). LON was assessed with the question: "In the last week, how often did you feel lonely?". SI was measured using an index based on marital/cohabiting status, retirement status, social activity participation, and social network contacts. Memory was evaluated with combined z-scores from two administrations of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (immediate-recall, delayed-recall). We conducted our analyses using all available data across the three timepoints and retained participants with missing covariate data. Linear mixed models were used to regress combined memory scores onto SI and LON, adjusting for sociodemographic, health, functional ability, and lifestyle variables. Experiencing both SI and LON had the greatest inverse effect on memory (least-squares mean: -0.80 [95 % confidence-interval: -1.22, -0.39]), followed by LON alone (-0.73 [-1.13, -0.34]), then SI alone (-0.69 [-1.09, -0.29]), and lastly by being neither lonely nor isolated (-0.65 [-1.05, -0.25]). Sensitivity analyses confirmed this hierarchy of effects. Policies developed to enhance memory in middle-aged and older adults might achieve greater benefits when targeting the alleviation of both SI and LON rather than one or the other individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Kang
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mark Oremus
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Joel Dubin
- Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Suzanne L Tyas
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Charity Oga-Omenka
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Meira Golberg
- Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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2
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Lane JM, Zimmer A, Quiñones-Cordero MM, Sörensen S. Racial differences in the effect of verbal and nonverbal memory on concrete planning for future care needs among older adults: a multi-group structural equation modeling approach. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2024; 31:587-604. [PMID: 37317954 PMCID: PMC10721738 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2223902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Concrete planning for future care needs may positively impact older adults' subsequent mental health and quality of life. However, the cognitive factors that facilitate concrete planning among Black and White older adults are still poorly understood. We investigated whether there are significant differences between Black (n = 159) and White (n = 262) older adults in concrete planning and explored racial differences in the relationship between verbal and nonverbal episodic memory and concrete planning. Results revealed that Blacks showed lower engagement in concrete planning and lower scores than Whites on each verbal and nonverbal memory task. For Blacks, but not Whites, verbal memory and nonverbal memory performance predicted concrete planning with higher nonverbal memory relating to less concrete planning and higher verbal memory associated with more concrete planning. Our findings suggest racial differences exist in how episodic verbal and nonverbal memory affect concrete planning, a crucial factor for older adults' preparation for future care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamil M Lane
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Alexis Zimmer
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
| | - Maria M Quiñones-Cordero
- Elaine Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Silvia Sörensen
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
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3
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Lewis KR, Grossman K, Jones NE, Horner M. "Mentally you don't function the same": a Qualitative Examination of the Normalization, Embodiment, and Psychological Impact of Everyday Racism. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:631-642. [PMID: 36884132 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01548-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Everyday racism consists of covert and oppressive practices that uphold systems of power and reproduce White supremacy through subtle forms of repetitive and normalized discriminatory actions. While attention to the material and physical damage everyday racism evokes upon Black Americans is receiving increased attention, inconsistencies regarding its conceptualization and operationalization are impeding our understanding of the impact of everyday racism. Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) as an analytical framework, this article intends to respond to gaps in the literature and deepen the understanding of the psychological burden experiences of everyday racism places upon a sample of (n = 40) Black Americans. We engaged with the racial realism and Whiteness as property tenets to analyze individual in-depth interviews and (1) enhance our interrogation of micro/macro-level interactions and (2) aid in the conceptualization of everyday racism. Three themes emerged from the data: hypervigilance and the normalization of everyday racism, mental preparation for navigating White spaces, and the mental health impact of everyday racism. Participant narratives reveal how the normalization of everyday racism impacts them on a psychological and corporeal (i.e., bodily) level. Their accounts also spoke to how Whiteness operates as a property right that exacerbates everyday racism and places invisible boundaries upon how they navigate space. This study provides conceptual clarity about the realities of racism, deeper awareness of structural and individual measures, and an in-depth understanding of how often taken for granted and assumed "normal" forms of racism generate pathways to negative mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleea R Lewis
- Department of Public Health, University of Missouri - Columbia, School of Health Professions, Room 805, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Kandice Grossman
- Department of Sociology, University of Missouri - Columbia, College of Arts and Science, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Nicole E Jones
- Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Melissa Horner
- Department of Sociology, University of Missouri - Columbia, College of Arts and Science, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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4
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Fowler Davis S, Benkowitz C, Holland C, Gow A, Clarke C. A Scoping Review on the Opportunities for Social Engagement and Cognitive Frailty in Older Adults. Public Health Rev 2024; 45:1606494. [PMID: 38389543 PMCID: PMC10882720 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2024.1606494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive frailty (CF) is defined as the clinical syndrome of the combination of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, without dementia. Numerous risk factors for CF have been previously identified but this scoping review focusses on the critical need for social engagement and the association with cognition. The focus of this scoping review on the opportunity for social engagement rather than on perception or experience of loneliness. Based on the results of 55 studies were synthesised into four social engagement categories, namely participation, household, network, and habitat. Social engagement is associated with maintaining or improving cognition, particularly through active participation in social roles. Habitat (i.e., rural or urban settings) also influences cognition and the challenge is to enable social participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Fowler Davis
- Faculty of Allied Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Benkowitz
- Centre for Applied Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Carol Holland
- Division of Health Research, Centre for Ageing Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Gow
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Clarke
- Faculty of Social Science & Health, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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5
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Thompson González N, Machanda Z, Emery Thompson M. Age-related social selectivity: An adaptive lens on a later life social phenotype. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105294. [PMID: 37380041 PMCID: PMC10529433 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Age-related social selectivity is a process in which older humans reduce their number of social partners to a subset of positive and emotionally fulfilling relationships. Although selectivity has been attributed to humans' unique perceptions of time horizons, recent evidence demonstrates that these social patterns and processes occur in other non-human primates, suggesting an evolutionarily wider phenomenon. Here, we develop the hypothesis that selective social behavior is an adaptive strategy that allows social animals to balance the costs and benefits of navigating social environments in the face of age-related functional declines. We first aim to distinguish social selectivity from the non-adaptive social consequences of aging. We then outline multiple mechanisms by which social selectivity in old age may enhance fitness and healthspan. Our goal is to lay out a research agenda to identify selective strategies and their potential benefits. Given the importance of social support for health across primates, understanding why aging individuals lose social connections and how they can remain resilient has vital applications to public health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Thompson González
- Integrative Anthropological Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Zarin Machanda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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6
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Desai P, Krueger KR, Mendes de Leon C, Wilson RS, Evans DA, Rajan KB. Race and Apolipoprotein E-e4 Allele Status Differences in the Association Between Loneliness and Cognitive Decline. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:231-237. [PMID: 36626598 PMCID: PMC10073257 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine race and apolipoprotein E-e4 allele (APOE-e4) status differences in the longitudinal associations between loneliness and cognitive decline. METHODS The study sample is composed of participants ( N = 7696, 64% Black participants and 36% White participants) from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, a population-based cohort study. Mixed-effects regression models were conducted to examine the longitudinal associations between loneliness on global cognitive function and individual tests of cognitive function. Models were also stratified by race and APOE-e4. RESULTS A greater percentage of Black participants (17%) reported loneliness at baseline visit compared with White participants (12%). Black and White participants who were lonely individuals had a similar rate of decline in global cognitive function at 0.075 (95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.082 to -0.068) standard deviation unit (SDU) per year for Black participants and at 0.075 (95% CI = -0.086 to -0.063) SDU per year for White participants. Lonely participants with APOE-e4 had a higher rate of global cognitive decline at -0.102 (95% CI = -0.115 to -0.088) SDU per year than for lonely participants without APOE-e4 at -0.052 (95% CI = -0.059 to -0.045) SDU per year. CONCLUSIONS The burden of loneliness and its relation to cognitive decline is higher among participants with APOE-e4 compared with those without APOE-e4. Loneliness is associated with cognitive decline in both Black and White participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaja Desai
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Kristin R. Krueger
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Robert S. Wilson
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Denis A. Evans
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Kumar B. Rajan
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA
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7
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Ren Y, Savadlou A, Park S, Siska P, Epp JR, Sargin D. The impact of loneliness and social isolation on the development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 69:101061. [PMID: 36758770 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, observed at a higher incidence in women compared with men. Treatments aimed at improving pathology in AD remain ineffective to stop disease progression. This makes the detection of the early intervention strategies to reduce future disease risk extremely important. Isolation and loneliness have been identified among the major risk factors for AD. The increasing prevalence of both loneliness and AD emphasizes the urgent need to understand this association to inform treatment. Here we present a comprehensive review of both clinical and preclinical studies that investigated loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for AD. We discuss that understanding the mechanisms of how loneliness exacerbates cognitive impairment and AD with a focus on sex differences will shed the light for the underlying mechanisms regarding loneliness as a risk factor for AD and to develop effective prevention or treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ren
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Aisouda Savadlou
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Soobin Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Paul Siska
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Jonathan R Epp
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Derya Sargin
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Canada.
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8
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Kang JW, Oremus M. Examining the Combined Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Memory: A Systematic Review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 104:104801. [PMID: 36081231 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some research suggests social isolation and loneliness are important risk factors for reduced successful aging and cognitive health. However, findings are inconsistent and no prior systematic review has investigated whether social isolation and loneliness are associated with the memory domain of cognition. This review examined whether social isolation and loneliness individually and jointly affected the memory of middle- and older-aged adults. METHODS We used PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus to search for comparative studies that examined the impact of both loneliness and social isolation (e.g., social activity, social networks) on memory (including all subtypes) in populations aged ≥ 45 years. Three raters performed data extraction and risk of bias assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Data were synthesized narratively following the Synthesis without Meta-Analysis guideline. RESULTS In 12 included articles, higher levels of loneliness and social isolation (combining a range of different indicators) were associated with lower memory performance, where the interaction between loneliness and social isolation had the largest adverse effect on memory, followed by social isolation alone, and followed by loneliness alone. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in the composition of the two most common indicators of social isolation (social network size, social activity participation), with the magnitude of most results being clinically non-important. Most articles had moderate risk of bias. CONCLUSION This review found an inverse association between social isolation/loneliness and memory, and outlines future steps to systematically combine the two constructs and measure social isolation in a consistent, multi-modal format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Kang
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Mark Oremus
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1.
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9
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Son J, Sung P. The Reciprocal Relationship Between Social Engagement and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults in South Korea. J Appl Gerontol 2022; 42:928-941. [PMID: 36583249 DOI: 10.1177/07334648221148953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A greater number of studies have examined the impact of social engagement on cognitive function rather than the other way around, leaving their reciprocal association underexplored. Furthermore, formal and informal social engagement are not differentiated, although they may have independent relationships with cognitive function. This study aims to identify (1) whether informal and formal social engagements are effective in maintaining cognitive health and (2) if cognitive function has a bidirectional effect on social engagement. The study applies a dynamic panel data structural equation modeling with a maximum likelihood estimator (ML-SEM) to the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) data. The results confirm that frequent participation in organizational activities is more robustly associated with cognitive function than memberships or informal social contact. Concerning the bidirectional relationship, the cognitive function increases the degrees of informal and formal engagement. The study thus validates a reciprocal association between social engagement and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joonmo Son
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 37580National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pildoo Sung
- Centre for Ageing Research and Education121579, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
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10
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Yang X, Xu XY, Guo L, Zhang Y, Wang SS, Li Y. Effect of leisure activities on cognitive aging in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1080740. [PMID: 36619041 PMCID: PMC9815615 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1080740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal cognitive aging in older adults is a growing public health problem. Previous studies showed inconsistent results pertaining to the effects of leisure activities on cognitive function in older adults. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational longitudinal studies to examine and synthesize the effects of leisure activities on cognitive function in older adults. MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Web of Science databases were searched from January 2012 to January 2022. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Most studies found that leisure activities had a positive effect on cognitive function in older adults. The pooled RR for the effect of leisure activity on cognitive function was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.72-0.81, p < 0.01). The effects of leisure activities on cognitive function varied by different cognitive statuses in older adults, with RRs ranging from 0.55 (95% CI: 0.37-0.83) to 1.07 (95% CI: 0.95-1.22). Meta-regression analysis showed that compared with studies with percentage of female ≥50%, studies with female participant percentage <50% had significantly increased RR (p = 0.01). Moreover, studies conducted in European and American countries had significantly lower RR (p = 0.019), compared with those conducted in Asian countries. Our study revealed different effects of various types of leisure activities on different cognitive statuses in older adults. To make innovative recommendations for promoting cognitive function in older adults, more detailed observational longitudinal studies investigating the effects of different types of leisure activities on different cognitive statuses in older adults are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Yang
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xin Yi Xu
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Postdoctoral Research Station in Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Linlin Guo
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shan Shan Wang
- Centre for Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China,School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,*Correspondence: Yan Li,
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11
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Schutter N, Holwerda TJ, Kuipers H, Van RHL, Stek ML, Comijs HC, Peen J, Dekker JJM. The Association Between Loneliness and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Older Psychiatric Outpatients. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022; 35:778-788. [PMID: 34937438 DOI: 10.1177/08919887211060022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Loneliness in adults increases with age. Although loneliness has been found to be associated with psychiatric disorders and dementia, no information is available on prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric patients. The aims of this study were to examine prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric outpatients, including gender differences and associations with psychiatric disorders and social isolation. METHODS Cross-sectional study in an outpatient clinic for geriatric psychiatry between September 2013 and February 2018. Interviews were done in 181 patients. RESULTS 80% of participants were lonely. Loneliness was associated with having contacts in less social network domains, in women but not in men. There were no associations with DSM-IV-TR-classifications. However, loneliness was associated with higher scores on questionnaires for depression and cognitive function. Intensity of treatment did not differ significantly between lonely and non-lonely participants. CONCLUSION Loneliness is highly prevalent in older psychiatric outpatients, with men and women equally affected. Loneliness should be assessed in all older psychiatric patients, especially when they show high scores on symptom checklists or have a restricted social network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasja Schutter
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, 120662Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tjalling J Holwerda
- Department of Psychiatry, 120662Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hanna Kuipers
- Department of Psychiatry, Amici Zorgt, Heerhugowaard, Netherlands
| | - Rien H L Van
- Department of General Psychiatry Residency Training/Netherlands Psychoanalytical Institute, 120662Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Max L Stek
- GGZ InGeest/Department of Psychiatry and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hannie C Comijs
- GGZ InGeest/Department of Psychiatry and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jaap Peen
- Department of Clinical Research, 120662Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jack J M Dekker
- Department of Clinical Research, 120662Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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12
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Calmasini C, Swinnerton KN, Zimmerman SC, Peterson RL, George KM, Gilsanz P, Hayes-Larson E, Mayeda ER, Mungas DM, Whitmer RA, Glymour MM. Association of Social Integration with Cognitive Status in a Multi-Ethnic Cohort: Results From the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022; 35:789-799. [PMID: 35077251 PMCID: PMC10020945 DOI: 10.1177/08919887211070259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated overall and race-specific relationships between social integration and cognition in older adults. Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) cohort participants included 1343 Asian, Black, Latino, or non-Latino White Kaiser Permanente Northern California members. We estimated the effect of social integration on verbal episodic memory, semantic memory, and executive function derived from the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment (SENAS) Scales. Social integration scores included marital status; volunteer activity; and contact with children, relatives, friends, and confidants. We estimated covariate-adjusted linear mixed-effects models for baseline and 17-month follow-up cognition. Social integration was associated with higher baseline cognitive scores (average β = 0.066 (95% confidence interval: 0.040, 0.092)) overall and in each racial/ethnic group. The association did not vary by race/ethnicity. Social integration was not associated with the estimated rate of cognitive change. In this cohort, more social integration was similarly associated with better late-life cognition across racial/ethnic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Calmasini
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaitlin N. Swinnerton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Scott C. Zimmerman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rachel L. Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Kristen M. George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Eleanor Hayes-Larson
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rose Mayeda
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dan M. Mungas
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rachel A. Whitmer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - M. Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Lamar M, James BD, Glover CM, Capuano AW, McSorley VE, Wilson RS, Barnes LL. Social Engagement and All-Cause Mortality: A Focus on Participants of the Minority Aging Research Study. Am J Prev Med 2022; 63:700-707. [PMID: 36272760 PMCID: PMC10019601 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Social engagement is known to improve health; less is known about whether social activities at the core of African American life decrease mortality risk in this minoritized population. This study investigated whether and which aspects of social engagement predict mortality risk in older African Americans. METHODS Data from 768 African Americans (aged ∼73 years; nondemented at baseline) participating in the Minority Aging Research Study, a longitudinal community-based, cohort study of aging, was collected between 2004 and 2020 and analyzed in 2020. Participants self-reported late-life social activity, social network size, life space, and purpose in life at baseline and completed approximately 6.5 years of annual follow-up (range=15.70). Cox models included time from baseline to death or censoring and an indicator for death versus censored with age, sex, education, cardiovascular disease risk factor burden, depressive symptomatology, and motor gait performance as covariates. RESULTS As of March 2020, 25% of participants died (n=192; age at death ∼83 years). In fully adjusted Cox models, mortality risk decreased by 34% (hazard ratio=0.66; 95% CI=0.48, 0.91; p=0.012) for those with higher compared with that for those with lower social activity generally, with community/volunteer-, group-, and socially-related activities specifically driving these results. CONCLUSIONS Engaging in late-life social activity, especially group- and socially-based activities, was most consistently and robustly associated with reduced mortality risk in African Americans regardless of health. These results lay the foundation for considering community-based approaches to increase and/or maintain social participation in older African Americans as a potential means by which to increase longevity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Lamar
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Bryan D James
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Crystal M Glover
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ana W Capuano
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - V Eloesa McSorley
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Robert S Wilson
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lisa L Barnes
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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14
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Gwizdala KL, Brouillete R, Beyl R, Johnson W, Hebert C, Carter L, Harris M, Newton RL, Carmichael OT. Exercise Effects on Cognition in Older African Americans: A Pilot Randomized Trial. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:921978. [PMID: 35936770 PMCID: PMC9354972 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.921978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Regular physical activity lowers risk for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders. Older African Americans (AAs) have been underrepresented in trials that increased physical activity to improve cognitive outcomes. Methods 56 sedentary, older, cognitively healthy AAs (avg. 69.2 ± 3.4 yrs. old) were randomized in 1:1 ratio into either a 12-week successful aging group (SAG) or a 12-week physical activity group (PAG). Participants in SAG attended weekly 60-min educational sessions in which healthy aging topics were discussed. Participants in PAG attended supervised physical activity sessions twice per week at local YMCAs (90–120 min/week) and were prescribed 2–3 days per week of home-based activity. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) assessed cognitive function. ANCOVA models compared mean 12-week change in global cognition and subdomain scores between groups with secondary analyses for sex differences. Effect sizes for RBANS were calculated. Results The RBANS global cognition score (SAG Est. 5.6 ± 1.8, effect size = 0.37, p = 0.003) and several subdomain scores (one-sample T tests, all p < 0.05) increased significantly within the SAG. Scores for global cognition increased more in SAG than in PAG (Change Estimate, PAG minus SAG: –4.6 ± 2.5 points, effect size = 0.31) at a trend level (p = 0.072). SAG females increased their global cognition score more than PAG females and more than males in either PAG or SAG (all p < 0.035). Discussion A 12-week physical activity intervention (PAG) did not improve cognitive functioning among older AAs but a comparator healthy aging education program did. Inadequate physical activity dosage or duration, SAG members acting on health-related information from educational sessions, and/or social stimulation within the SAG may have contributed to these results. Future studies should combine socially engaging activities with vigorous physical activity for cognitive enhancement among cognitively healthy older African Americans. Clinical Trial Registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03474302.
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15
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Eubank JM, Oberlin DJ, Alto A, Sahyoun NR, Asongwed E, Monroe-Lord L, Harrison EA. Effects of Lifestyle Factors on Cognition in Minority Population of Older Adults: A Review. Front Nutr 2022; 9:841070. [PMID: 35369047 PMCID: PMC8966895 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.841070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is projected to expand over the next several decades in the United States as the population ages. However, the cognitive health burden is not equally distributed among the population, as Hispanics and African Americans are at higher risk of AD when compared with Non-Hispanic Whites. There is some evidence to indicate that cognitive decline may be associated with lifestyle factors and that interventions in these domains may prevent or delay this decline. These lifestyle factors include social engagement, physical activity, both aerobic and strength training, dietary intake, sleep and stress. This review summarizes, in general, what is known about the relationship between risk factors and cognition and, in particular what is known about this relationship in minority populations. The results show that the relationship between these risk factors and cognitive decline is stronger for some of the factors such as physical activity and dietary intake and weaker for the other factors depending on what is measured and in what populations. It does appear, however, that the studies in minority populations is limited and warrants more targeted research and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Eubank
- Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jacob M. Eubank ; orcid.org/0000-0003-1806-9308
| | - Douglas J. Oberlin
- Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew Alto
- Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nadine R. Sahyoun
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Elmira Asongwed
- College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Lillie Monroe-Lord
- College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, United States
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16
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Abstract
We reviewed research that examines racism as an independent variable and one or more health outcomes as dependent variables in Black American adults aged 50 years and older in the USA. Of the 43 studies we reviewed, most measured perceived interpersonal racism, perceived institutional racism, or residential segregation. The only two measures of structural racism were birth and residence in a "Jim Crow state." Fourteen studies found associations between racism and mental health outcomes, five with cardiovascular outcomes, seven with cognition, two with physical function, two with telomere length, and five with general health/other health outcomes. Ten studies found no significant associations in older Black adults. All but six of the studies were cross-sectional. Research to understand the extent of structural and multilevel racism as a social determinant of health and the impact on older adults specifically is needed. Improved measurement tools could help address this gap in science.
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17
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Kim J, Yang JS, Youm Y, Kim DJ, Kim HC, Jung SJ. Association Between Social Network and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Assessment From the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center Cohort (2013-2018). Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:893290. [PMID: 35733804 PMCID: PMC9207251 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.893290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate how social networks are associated with cognitive function in the middle-aged and elderly Korean population. METHODS A total of 7,704 individuals over the age of 50 were included from the baseline recruitment of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center cohort from the years 2013 to 2018. Egocentric social network characteristics including network size, intimacy, and frequency of face-to-face meetings were measured as exposures, and the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score was measured to reflect general cognitive function as an outcome. We also stratified the analysis by income level into tertiles, with income caps of 42,000 thousand won and 72,000 thousand won. A general linear regression model was used, adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle factors, depressive symptoms, and study settings. RESULTS Social network properties were positively associated with cognitive function in both men and women. However, the specific estimates varied according to gender and income level. In men, frequency was most significantly associated with cognitive function (standardized β = 0.093, p-value <0 .0001). In women, the strength of the association with cognitive function was found in size (standardized β = 0.055, p-value = 0.001). The effect modification of income level could be seen in the association between frequency and cognitive function. The strongest association between frequency and cognitive function was found in the middle income group in men (standardized β = 0.114, p-value = 0.0063), and the low income group in women (standardized β = 0.076, p-value = 0.0039). CONCLUSION There were positive associations between social network properties (i.e., size, intimacy, and frequency of face-to-face meetings) and cognitive function. The degree of association varied according to social network properties, gender, and income level. Overall, among social network properties, social network size was an important factor in the cognition of women, whereas frequency was important in the cognition of men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Kim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Su Yang
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoosik Youm
- Department of Sociology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dae Jung Kim
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hyeon Chang Kim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Jae Jung
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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18
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Zahodne LB, Sharifian N, Kraal AZ, Zaheed AB, Sol K, Morris EP, Schupf N, Manly JJ, Brickman AM. Socioeconomic and psychosocial mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in cognition among older adults. Neuropsychology 2021; 35:265-275. [PMID: 33970660 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive aging are only partly attributable to socioeconomic indicators. Psychosocial factors, such as discrimination and perceived control, also differ across racial/ethnic groups, and emerging literature highlights their potential role in contributing to cognitive disparities in addition to socioeconomic status. Method: 1,463 older adults (51% Hispanic, 27% non-Hispanic Black, and 22% non-Hispanic White) in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project completed cognitive and psychosocial measures, including a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, Everyday and Major Experiences of Lifetime Discrimination scales, and the Perceived Control scale. Mediation models quantified separate indirect effects of Black race and Hispanic ethnicity on global cognitive composite scores through education, income, discrimination, and external perceived control. Results: Educational attainment, income, and perceived control each mediated racial/ethnic disparities in global cognition. Socioeconomic indicators (i.e., lower education and lower income) explained approximately 50% of the Black-White and Hispanic-White disparities in global cognition, and more external perceived control explained an additional 5%-8%. Hispanics reported the lowest levels of discrimination, while non-Hispanic Blacks reported the highest levels. However, neither everyday nor major lifetime discrimination was associated with global cognition. Significant racial/ethnic disparities in global cognition remained after accounting for the included socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Conclusions: This study suggests that psychosocial factors may explain racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive aging above and beyond socioeconomic indicators. More external perceived control, which could reflect chronic exposure to interpersonal and institutional marginalization, may be a particularly salient psychosocial risk factor for poorer cognitive aging among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ketlyne Sol
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
| | | | - Nicole Schupf
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
| | - Jennifer J Manly
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
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19
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Peterson RL, George KM, Tran D, Malladi P, Gilsanz P, Kind AJH, Whitmer RA, Besser LM, Meyer OL. Operationalizing Social Environments in Cognitive Aging and Dementia Research: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7166. [PMID: 34281103 PMCID: PMC8296955 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social environments are a contributing determinant of health and disparities. This scoping review details how social environments have been operationalized in observational studies of cognitive aging and dementia. METHODS A systematic search in PubMed and Web of Science identified studies of social environment exposures and late-life cognition/dementia outcomes. Data were extracted on (1) study design; (2) population; (3) social environment(s); (4) cognitive outcome(s); (5) analytic approach; and (6) theorized causal pathways. Studies were organized using a 3-tiered social ecological model at interpersonal, community, or policy levels. RESULTS Of 7802 non-duplicated articles, 123 studies met inclusion criteria. Eighty-four studies were longitudinal (range 1-28 years) and 16 examined time-varying social environments. When sorted into social ecological levels, 91 studies examined the interpersonal level; 37 examined the community/neighborhood level; 3 examined policy level social environments; and 7 studies examined more than one level. CONCLUSIONS Most studies of social environments and cognitive aging and dementia examined interpersonal factors measured at a single point in time. Few assessed time-varying social environmental factors or considered multiple social ecological levels. Future studies can help clarify opportunities for intervention by delineating if, when, and how social environments shape late-life cognitive aging and dementia outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Peterson
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (K.M.G.); (O.L.M.)
| | - Kristen M. George
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (K.M.G.); (O.L.M.)
| | - Duyen Tran
- Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Pallavi Malladi
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA;
| | - Amy J. H. Kind
- Center for Health Disparities Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53726, USA;
- Health Services and Care Research Program, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Rachel A. Whitmer
- Public Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lilah M. Besser
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA;
| | - Oanh L. Meyer
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (K.M.G.); (O.L.M.)
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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20
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Foong HF, Haron SA, Koris R, Hamid TA, Ibrahim R. Relationship between financial well-being, life satisfaction, and cognitive function among low-income community-dwelling older adults: the moderating role of sex. Psychogeriatrics 2021; 21:586-595. [PMID: 33969594 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low financial well-being is a common predicament among older adults living in poverty. The existing literature suggests a correlation between financial well-being and mental health in old age. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationships among financial well-being, life satisfaction, and cognitive function among low-income older adults and to examine the moderating effect of sex on these relationships. METHODS This study involved 2004 nationally representative community-dwelling older Malaysians from the bottom 40% household income group. Financial well-being was assessed by the four-item financial satisfaction scale, while life satisfaction was measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Cognitive function was measured by using the Malay version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Hierarchical multiple regression was used as the prime method for statistical analysis. RESULTS Financial well-being was positively associated with life satisfaction and cognitive function. Sex moderated the relationship between financial well-being and life satisfaction but not between financial well-being and cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS Financial well-being and life satisfaction were strongly correlated among older women, although no gender difference was found for the relationship between financial well-being and cognitive function. It appears financial well-being strongly predicts mental health. As such, poverty eradication initiatives targeting low-income older adults should be implemented to sustain life satisfaction and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Foh Foong
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Sharifah Azizah Haron
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Resource Management and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Roshanim Koris
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Malaysia
| | - Tengku Aizan Hamid
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Rahimah Ibrahim
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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