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Hernández-López MJ, Hernández-Méndez S, Leal-Costa C, Ramos-Morcillo AJ, Díaz-García I, López-Pérez MV, García-González J, Ruzafa-Martínez M. Prevalence of Unwanted Loneliness and Associated Factors in People over 65 Years of Age in a Health Area of the Region of Murcia, Spain: HELPeN Project. J Clin Med 2024; 13:5604. [PMID: 39337091 PMCID: PMC11432699 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13185604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2024] [Revised: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Population aging poses many challenges to public health, highlighting loneliness and social isolation as severe problems that affect the physical and mental health of older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these became aggravated. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of loneliness and its relationship with social isolation, depression, cognitive deterioration, sleep quality, and the level of physical mobility and functioning of older adults in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia. Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was performed. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65, living in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia, and not being institutionalized. The following variables were evaluated: sociodemographic variables, loneliness (UCLA scale), social isolation (DUFSS), depression (GDS), cognitive deterioration (Pfeiffer), sleep quality (PSQI), and mobility (Barthel index). A univariate and multivariate regression model was created to examine how the dependent variable was related to the independent variables. Results: A total of 102 older adults participated in the study. Of these, 31.4% perceived unwanted loneliness and 14.7% low social support. The multivariate regression analysis showed that social isolation, geriatric depression, and cognitive deterioration were significant predictors of loneliness. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of developing multifaceted interventions that address not only social isolation but also other interrelated factors such as depression, cognitive deterioration, and sleep quality. The strategies should be centered on community programs and support networks. It is fundamental to perform longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Solanger Hernández-Méndez
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, University of Murcia, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, 30800 Lorca, Spain
| | - César Leal-Costa
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Murcia, Av. Buenavista 32, El Palmar, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Isidora Díaz-García
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, University of Murcia, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, 30800 Lorca, Spain
| | - María Verónica López-Pérez
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, University of Murcia, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, 30800 Lorca, Spain
| | - Jessica García-González
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Almeria, Carr. Sacramento, s/n, La Cañada, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - María Ruzafa-Martínez
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Murcia, Av. Buenavista 32, El Palmar, 30120 Murcia, Spain
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Jin Y, Song D, Quan Z, Ni J, Qing H. The regulatory effect of the anterior cingulate cortex on helping behavior in juvenile social isolation model mice. Physiol Behav 2024; 287:114698. [PMID: 39306222 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114698] [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: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Social isolation during adolescence negatively impacts the development of adult social behaviors. However, the exact link between social experiences during adolescence and social behaviors in adulthood is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated how isolation during juvenility affects harm avoidance behavior in a mouse model of juvenile social isolation. We found that mice subjected to social isolation as juveniles display atypical harm avoidance behaviors and that neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex are involved in these abnormal behaviors. Furthermore, we discovered that the chemogenetic activation of anterior cingulate cortex pyramidal neurons can rescue impaired harm-avoidance behaviors in these mice. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the impact of social experiences on behavior and brain function. Understanding how social isolation during crucial developmental periods can lead to alterations in behavior opens up new avenues for exploring therapeutic interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by impaired prosocial behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Da Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China.
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Lee CL, Lin YC, Kuo TH. The impact of social partners: investigating mixed-strain housing effects on aging in female mice. Biogerontology 2024:10.1007/s10522-024-10139-1. [PMID: 39261412 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-024-10139-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Aging is a multifaceted process characterized by the gradual decline of physiological functions and can be modulated by various internal and external factors. While social interactions have been shown to affect behaviors and physiology in different species, the impact of social partners on aging-related phenotypes and lifespan in mice remains understudied. To address this question, we investigated various aging-related traits and lifespan in two mouse strains, C57BL/6J and BALB/c, under two different housing conditions: mixed-strain and same-strain housing. Analyses using a Generalized Linear Model revealed significant differences between the two strains in several phenotypes, including metabolic, anxiety-like, and electrocardiographic traits. However, surprisingly, housing conditions did not significantly affect most of the examined parameters, including overall lifespan. Only 3 out of 25 traits-body weight change in a metabolic cage, running wheel activity, and survival days of a quartiles of mice with middle lifespans-were influenced by housing conditions in a strain-dependent manner. Together, our study suggested a minimal influence of co-housing with social partners from different genetic backgrounds on aging-related phenotypes. This result demonstrates the feasibility of mixed housing for mouse husbandry and, more importantly, provides valuable insights for future research on the social influences on the aging process in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Lin Lee
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Chiao Lin
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tsung-Han Kuo
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
- Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Ribeiro-Gonçalves JA, Pereira D, Costa PA, Leal I. Protective and stress factors for psychological distress: a comparative analysis of LGB and non-LGB older adults. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-10. [PMID: 39169684 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2394847] [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] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Population ageing raises major public health and psychosocial challenges. Particularly, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older people may face increased vulnerabilities and marginalization when compared to their non-LGB (heterosexual) counterparts, which may entail more risks for their mental health. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the levels of protective - social support, spirituality, and resilience and stress factors - loneliness and ageism - among LGB and non-LGB older adults, and their impact on psychological distress (PD). METHOD A sample of 647 people aged 60 years or older (M = 66.01; SD = 4.93) was collected, 368 non-LGB and 279 LGB. Participation was carried out through an online survey in Portugal. RESULTS LGB older adults had lower scores on all protective factors, except on social support from friends, and higher levels on all stress factors, except on hostile ageism, compared to non-LGB older adults. Further, resilience and loneliness were the main predictors of PD regardless of the sexual orientation. Stress factors explained the levels of PD over and above the effects of protective factors, both among LGB and non-LGB older adults. CONCLUSION Psychological distress in aging presents different protective and stressful factors according to the sexual orientation of older adults. More comparative studies are suggested in the intersection between ageing and sexual orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dora Pereira
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Psychology, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
- Research Centre for Psychology (CUIP), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Alexandre Costa
- Center for Psychology of University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, SexLab, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Leal
- William James Center for Research, ISPA, University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal
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Rautiainen LJ, Jansson AH, Knuutila M, Aalto UL, Kolster A, Kautiainen H, Strandberg TE, Pitkala KH. Comparing Loneliness, Social Inactivity, and Social Isolation: Associations with Health-Related Quality of Life and Mortality among Home-Dwelling Older Adults. Gerontology 2024:1-10. [PMID: 39154640 DOI: 10.1159/000540345] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Loneliness, social inactivity, and social isolation are intertwined concepts. When assessed separately, they indicate poor well-being, adverse health effects, and increased mortality. Studies exploring overlapping and comparing the prognosis of these concepts are scarce. We investigated (1) overlapping of concepts of loneliness, social inactivity, and social isolation, (2) characteristics of groups: group 0 (not lonely, socially inactive, or socially isolated), group 1 (lonely), group 2 (not lonely but socially inactive and/or socially isolated), and (3) the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological well-being (PWB), and 3.6-year mortality of these groups. METHODS The home-dwelling older adults (n = 989; 75 y+) of the Helsinki Aging Study in 2019-2022 completing all required questionnaires were assessed. Group 0 included 494, group 1 included 280, and group 2 included 215 participants. Variables studied were demographics, diagnoses, mobility, physical functioning (Barthel index), and cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination). Outcomes were HRQoL (15D) and PWB. Mortality was retrieved from central registers. RESULTS Half of the sample was lonely, socially inactive, or socially isolated, but only 2% were simultaneously lonely, socially inactive, and socially isolated. Of lonely participants, 38% were also socially inactive and/or socially isolated. The lonely participants were significantly more often widowed or lived alone and had the lowest HRQoL and poorest PWB compared with the other groups. After adjustments (age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index), mortality did not statistically differ between the groups. CONCLUSION Loneliness is an independent determinant of poor HRQoL and PWB, and it should be considered separately from social inactivity and social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Rautiainen
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- The Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older Adults, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu H Jansson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- The Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older Adults, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mia Knuutila
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ulla L Aalto
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Geriatrics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annika Kolster
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Health Services, Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services, Espoo, Finland
| | - Hannu Kautiainen
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo E Strandberg
- The Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older Adults, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Geriatrics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisu H Pitkala
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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Rossetti MG, Perlini C, Girelli F, Zovetti N, Brambilla P, Bressi C, Bellani M. Developing a brief telematic cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of social isolation in young adults. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1433108. [PMID: 39161688 PMCID: PMC11331789 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1433108] [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: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The present study aims to present a novel cognitive-behavioral intervention protocol focused on treating social isolation through telematic interaction, thus overcoming common barriers characteristic of face-to-face interventions. Methods We examined current literature about face-to-face and telematic psychotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of social isolation in early adulthood. Current evidence is mixed, suggesting the need to develop novel interventions focused on patients' cognitive functioning. Moreover, telematic interventions are promising candidates for overcoming common barriers intrinsic to the condition of social isolation. Results The present 8-session model inspired by cognitive behavioral theoretical models and cognitive interventions currently present in the literature is thought to help socially isolated adult patients reduce clinical symptoms associated with the condition and lead to a reduction in the avoidance of social situations, leading to an improvement of the quality of life. Conclusion We presented a telematic psychotherapeutic intervention aimed at helping adult patients suffering from social isolation who are unable to seek help from national health systems and face-to-face interventions, thus overcoming barriers intrinsic to social isolation. The present cognitive-behavioral treatment protocol has been developed in the context of a randomized clinical trial ongoing in Italy, aimed at implementing and testing the feasibility and effectiveness of multimodal digital interventions for treating social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gloria Rossetti
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Unit of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
| | - Cinzia Perlini
- Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Girelli
- Unit of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
| | - Niccolò Zovetti
- Unit of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bressi
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Bellani
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Restrepo A, Smith KE, Silver EM, Norman G. Ambiguity potentiates effects of loneliness on feelings of rejection. Cogn Emot 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39093061 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2385006] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
For social species, having strong and high-quality social relationships is an important safety cue. Loneliness occurs when an individual perceives they have insufficient relationships resulting in feelings of lack of safety. States of perceived unsafety are linked to an increased tendency to construe ambiguous information - information lacking a unique clear interpretation - as threatening. Here, we explore whether the ambiguity of social cues of interpersonal rejection moderates effects of loneliness on feelings of rejection while undergoing social exclusion. Data were collected in 2021; 144 adults completed a progressive social exclusion paradigm where they were randomly assigned to be equally included, excluded, or over-included. Social exclusion/inclusion cues became more pronounced over the course of multiple rounds of a ball-tossing game (Cyberball) resulting in a scenario where ambiguity was highest in earlier rounds and decreased over time. Participants reported feelings of loneliness prior to the task and feelings of rejection throughout the task. Results demonstrated that higher loneliness predicted increased feelings of rejection regardless of exclusion condition. Notably, this positive relationship was strongest during earlier rounds when social cues were most ambiguous. These findings contribute to our understanding of how loneliness modulates social perception to enable organisms to adequately adapt to changing circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Restrepo
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Karen E Smith
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Emily M Silver
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Greg Norman
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Dissinger A, Rimoldi S, Terova G, Kwasek K. Chronic social isolation affects feeding behavior of juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307967. [PMID: 39058733 PMCID: PMC11280532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Many organisms exhibit social behaviors and are part of some scheme of social structure. Zebrafish are highly social, shoaling fish and therefore, social isolation may have notable impacts on their physiology and behavior. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of social isolation on feed intake, monoaminergic system related gene expression, and intestinal health of juvenile zebrafish fed a high-inclusion soybean meal based diet. At 20 days post-fertilization zebrafish were randomly assigned to chronic isolation (1 fish per 1.5 L tank) or social housing (6 fish per 9 L tank) with 18 tanks per treatment group (n = 18). Dividers were placed between all tanks to prevent visual cues between fish. Zebrafish were fed a commercial fishmeal based diet until 35 days post-fertilization and then fed the experimental high-inclusion soybean meal based diet until 50 days post-fertilization. At the end of the experiment (51 days post-fertilization), the mean total length, weight, and weight gain were not significantly different between treatment groups. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher in chronic isolation fish than in social housing fish. Expression of monoaminergic and appetite-related genes were not significantly different between groups. The chronic isolation group showed higher expression of the inflammatory gene il-1b, however, average intestinal villi width was significantly smaller and average length-to-width ratio was significantly higher in chronic isolation fish, suggesting morphological signs of inflammation were not present at the time of sampling. These results indicate that chronic isolation positively affects feed intake of juvenile zebrafish and suggest that isolation may be useful in promoting feed intake of less-palatable diets such as those based on soybean meal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey Dissinger
- Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Simona Rimoldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Genciana Terova
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Karolina Kwasek
- Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
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Yost RT, Scott AM, Kurbaj JM, Walshe-Roussel B, Dukas R, Simon AF. Recovery from social isolation requires dopamine in males, but not the autism-related gene nlg3 in either sex. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240604. [PMID: 39086833 PMCID: PMC11288677 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Social isolation causes profound changes in social behaviour in a variety of species. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms modulating behavioural responses to social isolation and social recovery remain to be elucidated. Here, we quantified the behavioural response of vinegar flies to social isolation using two distinct protocols (social space preference and sociability, the spontaneous tendencies to form groups). We found that social isolation increased social space and reduced sociability. These effects of social isolation were reversible and could be reduced after 3 days of group housing. Flies with a loss of function of neuroligin3 (orthologue of autism-related neuroligin genes) with known increased social space in a socially enriched environment were still able to recover from social isolation. We also show that dopamine (DA) is needed for a response to social isolation and recovery in males but not in females. Furthermore, only in males, DA levels are reduced after isolation and are not recovered after group housing. Finally, in socially enriched flies mutant for neuroligin3, DA levels are reduced in males, but not in females. We propose a model to explain how DA and neuroligin3 are involved in the behavioural response to social isolation and its recovery in a dynamic and sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryley T. Yost
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Judy M. Kurbaj
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Reuven Dukas
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Animal Behaviour Group, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne F. Simon
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Ren XQ, Zhao GM, Fang SW, Xu LF, Wang LD, Zhao LH, Lu MM. Mediating roles of activities of daily living and depression on the relationship between sleep quality and health-related quality of life. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14057. [PMID: 38890451 PMCID: PMC11189409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65095-0] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the mediating effects of ADL and depression on the relationship between sleep quality and HRQOL among older people in rural China, while also exploring the moderating impact of loneliness. The study gathered data from a household survey conducted among 1587 Chinese rural older adults (mean age = 73.63 years). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 software (IBM, New York, USA) and the PROCESS macro version 4.0 program. The findings indicated a significant correlation between sleep quality, ADL, depression, loneliness and HRQOL. ADL and depression exhibited a chain mediation effect on the relationship between sleep quality and HRQOL. Notably, the association between sleep quality and HRQOL was entirely mediated by ADL and depression. Additionally, loneliness acted as a moderator in the relationship between ADL and HRQOL. The findings of this study suggest that interventions focusing on sleep quality should prioritize strategies for enhancing older adults' ADL and depression as integral components of promoting older adults' HRQOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Ren
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Gong-Ming Zhao
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuo-Wen Fang
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ling-Feng Xu
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Li-Dan Wang
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Health Policy Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Lin-Hai Zhao
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Health Policy Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Man-Man Lu
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, No.81, Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Health Policy Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Csikós V, Dóra F, Láng T, Darai L, Szendi V, Tóth A, Cservenák M, Dobolyi A. Social Isolation Induces Changes in the Monoaminergic Signalling in the Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Cells 2024; 13:1043. [PMID: 38920671 PMCID: PMC11201939 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121043] [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: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The effects of short-term social isolation during adulthood have not yet been fully established in rats behaviourally, and not at all transcriptomically in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). (2) Methods: We measured the behavioural effects of housing adult male rats in pairs or alone for 10 days. We also used RNA sequencing to measure the accompanying gene expression alterations in the mPFC of male rats. (3) Results: The isolated animals exhibited reduced sociability and social novelty preference, but increased social interaction. There was no change in their aggression, anxiety, or depression-like activity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a differential expression of 46 genes between the groups. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed genes are involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, particularly in the dopaminergic and peptidergic systems, and addiction. Subsequent validation confirmed the decreased level of three altered genes: regulator of G protein signalling 9 (Rgs9), serotonin receptor 2c (Htr2c), and Prodynorphin (Pdyn), which are involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic, and peptidergic function, respectively. Antagonizing Htr2c confirmed its role in social novelty discrimination. (4) Conclusions: Social homeostatic regulations include monoaminergic and peptidergic systems of the mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Csikós
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fanni Dóra
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Láng
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Luca Darai
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vivien Szendi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Tóth
- In Vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Melinda Cservenák
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpád Dobolyi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Lent MC, Perry KJ, Perhamus GR, Buck C, Murray-Close D, Ostrov JM. Is autonomic functioning distinctly associated with anxiety and unsociability in preschoolers? Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 200:112343. [PMID: 38631542 PMCID: PMC11140582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112343] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
There are many benefits of peer interactions for children's social, emotional, and cognitive development, and isolation from peers may have negative consequences for children. Although biological processes may underlie social withdrawal broadly, distinct patterns may be associated with withdrawal behaviors depending on their underlying motivation (e.g., shy versus disinterested). This study investigated the role of autonomic nervous system activity, as assessed via skin conductance level (SCL) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in predicting changes in unsociability (e.g., lack of interest in peers) and anxious-fearfulness (e.g., discomfort among peers). Data were collected using a community sample of 92 US preschool children (45.7% female; Mage = 45.51 months, SDage = 3.81 months) at two time points one year apart. Gender differences were also explored. Baseline physiology was assessed while viewing a neutral video clip, and reactivity was assessed while viewing social exclusion and post-aggression discussion videos. For all children, coinhibition (i.e., SCL inhibition accompanied by RSA inhibition) to the post-aggression discussion video and blunted SCL activation to the exclusion video were prospectively associated with higher levels of anxious-fearfulness one year later. For boys only, baseline reciprocal sympathetic activation (i.e., SCL activation and RSA inhibition) was prospectively related to higher levels of unsociability one year later. For girls only, RSA inhibition in response to the post-aggression discussion video was prospectively related to higher levels of unsociability one year later. Findings contribute to a growing literature on autonomic reactivity in preschoolers' adjustment and suggest possible differences in the physiological processes underlying unsociability and anxious-fearfulness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Lent
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Kristin J Perry
- Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Gretchen R Perhamus
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Casey Buck
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Dianna Murray-Close
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jamie M Ostrov
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Sherman DW, Alfano AR, Alfonso F, Duque CR, Eiroa D, Marrero Y, Muñecas T, Radcliffe-Henry E, Rodriguez A, Sommer CL. A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Social Isolation and Physical Health in Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1135. [PMID: 38891210 PMCID: PMC11171827 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111135] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: According to the World Health Organization, social isolation, particularly of older adults, is a public health issue endangering the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Social isolation affects health through biological, behavioral, and psychological pathways and is associated with physical and psychological/emotional well-being, increases morbidity and mortality rates, and lowers quality of life. Purpose: This systematic review examined the relationship between social isolation and physical health, including subjective and objective dimensions, and factors that influence this relationship in adults. Methods: This systematic review examined six electronic databases covering the field of health and human services and included results from 1 January 2017 to 10 March 2023 with key terms including adult social connection or social isolation coupled with health, physical, psychological, emotional, mental, or behavioral. The initial search yielded 925 research articles across all databases and was narrowed to 710 when the decision was made to focus on social isolation and physical health. Covidence was used throughout the retrieval and appraisal process, as provided in a PRISMA flow diagram. Twenty-four studies that scored 90 or above in the appraisal process were included in the systematic review. Results: The studies represented included seven studies conducted in the United States and seventeen studies conducted internationally. Regarding study design, twenty-three studies were quantitative, one was qualitative, and one was mixed methods. The majority of quantitative studies were correlational in design with nine being longitudinal. The majority of studies were based on large national data sets representing in total 298,653 participants aged 50 and older. The results indicate that social isolation is related to increases in inflammatory biomarkers associated with diseases, all-cause mortality, lower expectations of longevity, and frailty. In addition, social isolation was associated with cognitive decline and disruptions in sleep. Poor oral health increased social isolation. The results further indicated that decreased physical performance/function and a decline in physical activity were associated with social isolation, as well as decreased overall physical health, poor health behaviors, and self-care, and decreased health-related quality of life. Further research is warranted to examine the possible bidirectionality of these relationships and possible mediating, moderating, or confounding variables. Implications: Future research is needed to explore the biological and behavioral pathways in which social isolation negatively impacts physical health. Going forward, studies are needed that move beyond descriptive, exploratory methods and integrate data from qualitative and mixed-method designs that will inform the development and testing of a conceptual framework related to social isolation and health. By advancing the science behind social isolation, comprehensive interventions can be identified and tested with implications at the individual, family, community, and societal levels to reduce social isolation, particularly among adults, and improve health and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Witt Sherman
- Department of Graduate Nursing, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Alliete Rodriguez Alfano
- Department of Communication and Science Disorders, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA; (A.R.A.); (C.L.S.)
| | - Fernando Alfonso
- Department of Nurse Anesthesiology, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Carmen R. Duque
- Department of Undergraduate Nursing, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Daniella Eiroa
- Department of Athletic Training Services, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Yamile Marrero
- Department of Health Services Administration, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Teresa Muñecas
- Department of Clinical Education, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Erica Radcliffe-Henry
- Department of Physical Assistant, Hubert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Chelsea L. Sommer
- Department of Communication and Science Disorders, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA; (A.R.A.); (C.L.S.)
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14
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Lin M, Yang Y, Jo W. Relationship Between Social Isolation, Cultural Adaptation, and Sports Gambling Addiction Among Korean Chinese Sports club Participants. J Gambl Stud 2024; 40:809-823. [PMID: 37725289 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10241-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] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to verify the relationship between social isolation, cultural adaptation, and gambling addiction tendency among Korean Chinese sports club participants living in Korea. This will be helpful in identifying the sports gambling tendencies of Korean Chinese sports club participants living in Korea and provide basic data for the development and implementation of preventive measures and treatments. This study recruited 340 sports club participants in Seoul and Incheon, Gyeonggi province in South Korea, using a convenience sampling method. A survey was conducted by visiting the places where the subjects were taking part in sports activities and explaining the contents and purpose of the survey. The survey was a self-administered questionnaire that the participants were to complete themselves. Of the original 340 participants, 314 questionnaires were included in the data analysis, with 26 questionnaires excluded for insincere responses or omissions. analysis result, First, considering the effect of social isolation of Korean Chinese sports club participants on cultural adaptation, the results show that emotional isolation had a negative effect on all subfactors of cultural adaptation, and social alienation had a negative effect on work adaptation, among the subfactors of cultural adaptation. Second, examining the effect of social isolation of Korean Chinese sports club participants on sports gambling addiction tendency, among the subfactors of social isolation, we find that emotional isolation had the most positive effect on sports gambling addiction tendency, followed by social alienation. Third, we examined the effect of the cultural adaptation of Korean Chinese sports club participants on sports gambling addiction tendency; among the subfactors of cultural adaptation, work adaptation had a negative effect on sports gambling addiction tendency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglong Lin
- College of Physical Education, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Physical Education, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woogyeon Jo
- College of Physical Education, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Majmudar IK, Mihalopoulos C, Abimanyi-Ochom J, Mohebbi M, Engel L. The association between loneliness with health service use and quality of life among informal carers in Australia. Soc Sci Med 2024; 348:116821. [PMID: 38569284 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The demanding nature of caregiving and limited social support can lead to informal carers experiencing loneliness, which can impact their well-being and overall health service use (HSU). The study aims to examine the association between loneliness with HSU and Health state utility values among informal carers in Australia. METHODS Data were derived from three waves (2009, 2013, and 2017) of the nationally representative longitudinal Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) survey, focusing on adult informal carers. Outcome measures included visits to the General Practitioner, the number of hospital admissions, and the SF-6D score. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis was conducted to explore the associations between loneliness and HSU, as well as loneliness and utility values (based on SF-6D) while adjusting for age, sex, education, marital status, income, and physical/mental health conditions. RESULTS After controlling for covariates, lonely carers reported lower utility values (IRR = 0.91, 95%CI [0.89, 0.93], p < 0.001) compared to non-lonely carers. Lonely carers reported a higher number of GP visits (IRR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.04, 1.36], p < 0.05) as well as a higher likelihood of visiting specialists (AOR = 1.31, p = 0.046) and hospital doctors (AOR = 1.42, p = 0.013) compared to the non-lonely carers. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study highlight the relationship between loneliness on both healthcare utilization and carers' overall well-being. Addressing loneliness through targeted interventions and social support systems can help improve health outcomes and potentially reduce the overall healthcare costs among informal carers in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Kartik Majmudar
- Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
| | - Cathy Mihalopoulos
- Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Health Economics Division, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Julie Abimanyi-Ochom
- Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
| | | | - Lidia Engel
- Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Health Economics Division, Melbourne, Australia.
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16
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Huang AR, Lin FR. Hearing loss and dementia in older adults: A narrative review. J Chin Med Assoc 2024; 87:252-258. [PMID: 38112446 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000001042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of hearing loss is high among older adults; globally, 65% of adults over 60 years have hearing loss. Over the past decade, evidence from epidemiologic studies has linked hearing loss to nearly two times greater risk of dementia. The hypothesized mechanistic pathways through which hearing loss could contribute to increased dementia risk include the effects of hearing on greater cognitive load, changes in brain structure and function, and decreased social engagement. These mechanistic pathways may be modified by management of hearing loss using existing intervention (eg, hearing aids). Hearing treatment may be an effective intervention for slowing cognitive decline in some older adults. In this review, we update existing reviews of the current epidemiologic research on the association between hearing loss and dementia risk and discuss hypothesized mechanisms of this association. We also discuss management of hearing loss as a potential intervention for slowing cognitive decline and reducing dementia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Frank R Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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17
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Bevilacqua G, Westbury LD, Bloom I, Zhang J, Lawrence WT, Barker ME, Ward KA, Dennison EM. General self-efficacy, not musculoskeletal health, was associated with social isolation and loneliness in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Aging Clin Exp Res 2024; 36:20. [PMID: 38308733 PMCID: PMC10838234 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02676-5] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent among older adults. This study investigated factors influencing worsening social isolation and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on musculoskeletal conditions, falls, and fractures. METHODS We studied 153 participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Baseline assessments (2019-20) included osteoporosis, clinical osteoarthritis, fractures after age 45 years, falls in previous year, and lifestyle factors. Self-efficacy was assessed using a shortened General Self-Efficacy Scale. Social isolation was assessed using the 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Follow-up (2020-21) assessments included social isolation and loneliness using the 6-item De Jong-Gierveld scale for emotional, social, and overall loneliness. RESULTS Baseline median age was 83.1 years. A history of smoking predicted worsening social isolation (p = 0.046). Being married (p = 0.026) and higher self-efficacy scores (p = 0.03) predicted reduced social isolation at follow-up. Greater alcohol consumption was associated with higher overall loneliness (p = 0.026). Being married was related to a 36% (95% CI: 3%, 58%) reduction in emotional loneliness (p = 0.037). No musculoskeletal condition was associated with social isolation or loneliness. However, we observed a 22% (14%, 30%; p < 0.001) reduction in emotional loneliness and a 12% (4%, 20%; p = 0.003) reduction in overall loneliness per unit increase in self-efficacy score. CONCLUSIONS No musculoskeletal condition was associated with increased social isolation or loneliness, but longitudinal studies in larger samples are required. Greater self-efficacy was associated with reduced social isolation and reduced loneliness. Interventions promoting self-efficacy in older adults may reduce isolation and loneliness in this age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Bevilacqua
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Leo D Westbury
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ilse Bloom
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Jean Zhang
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Wendy T Lawrence
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Mary E Barker
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Kate A Ward
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Elaine M Dennison
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
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18
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Ghane G, Zare Z, Shahsavari H, Ahmadnia S, Siavashi B. The process of social death in patients with hip fracture. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1707. [PMID: 38242886 PMCID: PMC10799015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50115-2] [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: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
People with chronic disability and uncontrollable long-term complications following hip fracture have characterist.ics that may predispose them to social death. Continuous physical disability can have negative physical, psychological, and social consequences in these patients. To design care interventions for preventing and controlling social death, it is essential to identify the dimensions and characteristics of this process. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain the process of social death in hip fracture patients. In this study, which was conducted using a grounded theory approach, 20 patients were selected with maximum diversity and 9 professional and non-professional caregivers also through purposive sampling followed by theoretical sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, field notes, and observations. Data were analyzed using the approach proposed by Corbin and Strauss in stages including data analysis for concepts and their dimensions and characteristics, the context, process extraction, and integration of the categories. One core category and 16 main categories, which consisted of 55 subcategories and 212 primary concepts, were extracted. The results showed that the core process of social death in hip fracture is an intentional self-destruction for getting liberated from the conditions of the illness and the disrupted social life after the fracture, which ultimately leads to outcomes such as isolation-seeking and death ideations in these patients. The core category of liberating self-destruction reflects the close relationship between the context, process, and outcomes of social death. The process of social death is social, multidimensional, and complex. So far, no explanatory theory has been presented for this group of patients. Therefore, the results of this study can play an important role in designing helpful interventions for preventing, modifying, and changing the phenomenon of social death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnar Ghane
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Zahra Zare
- Department of Operating Room, School of Allied Medical Science, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hooman Shahsavari
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shirin Ahmadnia
- Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba'i, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Siavashi
- Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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19
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Murtaza G, Sultana R, Abualait T, Fatima M, Bashir S. Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with the decline in cognitive functioning in young adults. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16532. [PMID: 38089906 PMCID: PMC10712315 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses have caused widespread disease and death worldwide, leading to the implementation of lockdown measures and the closure of educational institutions in various countries. This research aims to investigate the impact of social isolation on the cognitive functioning of young students. The study included 84 subjects, with 48 being socially isolated and 36 non-isolated individuals. The participants' mental health was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), while cognitive functions were evaluated through attention-switching tasks (AST), pattern recognition memory (PRM), and choice reaction time (CRT) tests utilizing the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB) software. The socially isolated group had an average age of 21.3 ± 1.1 years, whereas the non-isolated group had an average age of 22.8 ± 2.0 years. The MMSE scores were 25.8 ± 1.6 for the socially isolated group and 28.6 ± 1.3 for the non-isolated group. In terms of cognitive functioning, there were significant differences (p = 0.000) observed in the values of AST correct latency for non-switching blocks (blocks 3 and 5) between the socially isolated group (608.1 ± 139.2) and the non-isolated group (499.5 ± 67.8). Similarly, the AST mean correct latency for switching blocks (block 7) was significantly different (p = 0.012) between the socially isolated group (784.4 ± 212.5) and the non-isolated group (671.8 ± 175.6). The socially isolated group exhibited significantly higher values in AST correct mean latency, AST congruent mean latency, AST incongruent mean latency, and AST percent mean correct trials compared to the non-isolated group. Additionally, the PRM mean percent correct significantly differed (p = 0.000) between the isolated group (81.3 ± 12.0) and the non-isolated group (91.9 ± 9.2). The isolated group also showed a higher CRT correct mean latency (482.4 ± 128.9) than the non-isolated group (451.0 ± 59.0), however the difference was not significant. In conclusion, social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline in the cognitive functioning of young students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Murtaza
- Department of Zoology, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Razia Sultana
- Department of Food Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Turki Abualait
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mishal Fatima
- Department of Zoology, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Weinstein N, Vuorre M, Adams M, Nguyen TV. Balance between solitude and socializing: everyday solitude time both benefits and harms well-being. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21160. [PMID: 38052821 PMCID: PMC10698034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44507-7] [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: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Two literatures argue that time alone is harmful (i.e., isolation) and valuable (i.e., positive solitude). We explored whether people benefit from a balance between their daily solitude and social time, such that having 'right' quantities of both maximizes well-being. Participants (n = 178) completed a 21-day diary study, which quantified solitude time in hours through reconstructing daily events. This procedure minimized retrospective bias and tested natural variations across time. There was no evidence for a one-size-fits-all 'optimal balance' between solitude and social time. Linear effects suggested that people were lonelier and less satisfied on days in which they spent more hours in solitude. These detrimental relations were nullified or reduced when daily solitude was autonomous (choiceful) and did not accumulate across days; those who were generally alone more were not, on the whole, lonelier. On days in which people spent more time alone they felt less stress and greater autonomy satisfaction (volitional, authentic, and free from pressure). These benefits were cumulative; those who spent more time alone across the span of the study were less stressed and more autonomy satisfied overall. Solitude time risks lowering well-being on some metrics but may hold key advantages to other aspects of well-being. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on June 1, 2022. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5KXQ3 .
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21
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Van Orden KA. Suicide risk in caregivers. Int Psychogeriatr 2023; 35:695-697. [PMID: 37667641 PMCID: PMC10841043 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610223000777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Van Orden
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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22
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Lay-Yee R, Hariri AR, Knodt AR, Barrett-Young A, Matthews T, Milne BJ. Social isolation from childhood to mid-adulthood: is there an association with older brain age? Psychol Med 2023; 53:7874-7882. [PMID: 37485695 PMCID: PMC10755222 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older brain age - as estimated from structural MRI data - is known to be associated with detrimental mental and physical health outcomes in older adults. Social isolation, which has similar detrimental effects on health, may be associated with accelerated brain aging though little is known about how different trajectories of social isolation across the life course moderate this association. We examined the associations between social isolation trajectories from age 5 to age 38 and brain age assessed at age 45. METHODS We previously created a typology of social isolation based on onset during the life course and persistence into adulthood, using group-based trajectory analysis of longitudinal data from a New Zealand birth cohort. The typology comprises four groups: 'never-isolated', 'adult-only', 'child-only', and persistent 'child-adult' isolation. A brain age gap estimate (brainAGE) - the difference between predicted age from structural MRI date and chronological age - was derived at age 45. We undertook analyses of brainAGE with trajectory group as the predictor, adjusting for sex, family socio-economic status, and a range of familial and child-behavioral factors. RESULTS Older brain age in mid-adulthood was associated with trajectories of social isolation after adjustment for family and child confounders, particularly for the 'adult-only' group compared to the 'never-isolated' group. CONCLUSIONS Although our findings are associational, they indicate that preventing social isolation, particularly in mid-adulthood, may help to avert accelerated brain aging associated with negative health outcomes later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lay-Yee
- Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences, and School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ahmad R. Hariri
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Annchen R. Knodt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Timothy Matthews
- Department of Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Barry J. Milne
- Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences, and School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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23
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Holloway J, Sayeed O, Jurivich D. Tellegacy: An Intergenerational Wellness and Health Promotion Project to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Feasibility Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7094. [PMID: 38063524 PMCID: PMC10706816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20237094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging research demonstrates that social isolation and loneliness are linked to significant physical and mental health conditions. To address these concerns, the Tellegacy program was developed as an intergenerational health-promoting intervention to ameliorate older adult social isolation and loneliness in an effort to increase wellness. The purpose of this study was to reflect on testing of the Tellegacy program as a behavioral intervention. University students trained in goal setting, mindfulness, and listening strategies were paired with 11 older adults in the northern Midwest area via weekly in-person and phone conversations. Oral reminiscence therapies were used and books containing their stories were given to the older adults after participation. Older adults were surveyed using the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Satisfaction of Life Scale, and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale to elucidate the effectiveness of the intervention. Improved scores in loneliness, satisfaction of life, and PHQ-9 demonstrated favorable improvements in older adults. Additional benefits for the student Legacy Builder were revealed from self-reported changes. This suggests the potential benefits of structured encounters between trained students and isolated or lonely older adults. The Tellegacy intergenerational feasibility program warrants further studies to fully demonstrate its impact on health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Holloway
- Department of Geriatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA;
| | - Owais Sayeed
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA;
| | - Donald Jurivich
- Department of Geriatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA;
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Neira S, Lee S, Hassanein LA, Sides T, D'Ambrosio SL, Boyt KM, Bains JS, Kash TL. Impact and Role of Hypothalamic Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Neurons in Withdrawal from Chronic Alcohol Consumption in Female and Male Mice. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7657-7667. [PMID: 37833068 PMCID: PMC10634552 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1153-23.2023] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, alcohol use and abuse are a leading risk of mortality, causing 5.3% of all deaths (World Health Organization, 2022). The endocrine stress system, initiated by the peripheral release of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) from primarily glutamatergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), is profoundly linked with alcohol use, abuse, and relapse (Blaine and Sinha, 2017). These PVN CRH-releasing (PVNCRH) neurons are essential for peripheral and central stress responses (Rasiah et al., 2023), but little is known about how alcohol affects these neurons. Here, we show that two-bottle choice alcohol consumption blunts the endocrine-mediated corticosterone response to stress during acute withdrawal in female mice. Conversely, using slice electrophysiology, we demonstrate that acute withdrawal engenders a hyperexcitable phenotype of PVNCRH neurons in females that is accompanied by increased glutamatergic transmission in both male and female mice. GABAergic synaptic transmission was unaffected by alcohol history. We then tested whether chemogenetic inhibition of PVNCRH neurons would restore stress response in female mice with a history of alcohol drinking in the looming disk test, which mimics an approaching predator threat. Accordingly, inhibition of PVNCRH neurons reduced active escape in hM4Di alcohol history mice only. This study indicates that stress-responsive PVNCRH neurons in females are particularly affected by a history of alcohol consumption. Interestingly, women have indicated an increase in heavy alcohol use to cope with stress (Rodriguez et al., 2020), perhaps pointing to a potential underlying mechanism in alcohol-mediated changes to PVNCRH neurons that alter stress response.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus neurons that release corticotropin releasing hormone (PVNCRH) are vital for stress response. These neurons have been understudied in relation to alcohol and withdrawal despite profound relations between stress, alcohol use disorders (AUD), and relapse. In this study, we use a variety of techniques to show that acute withdrawal from a history of alcohol impacts peripheral stress response, PVNCRH neurons, and behavior. Specifically, PVNCRH are in a hyperactive state during withdrawal, which drives an increase in active stress coping behaviors in female mice only. Understanding how alcohol use and withdrawal affects stress responding PVNCRH neurons may contribute to finding new potential targets for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Neira
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Sophia Lee
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Leslie A Hassanein
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Tori Sides
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Shannon L D'Ambrosio
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Kristen M Boyt
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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25
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Alnassar N, Hillman C, Fontana BD, Robson SC, Norton WHJ, Parker MO. angptl4 gene expression as a marker of adaptive homeostatic response to social isolation across the lifespan in zebrafish. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 131:209-221. [PMID: 37690345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.08.004] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation has detrimental health effects, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of 2 weeks of isolation on behavior and gene expression in the central nervous system at different life stages of zebrafish. Results showed that socially deprived young adult zebrafish experienced increased anxiety, accompanied by changes in gene expression. Most gene expression patterns returned to normal within 24 hours of reintroduction to a social environment, except angptl4, which was upregulated after reintroduction, suggesting an adaptive mechanism. Similarly, aging zebrafish displayed heightened anxiety and increased central nervous system expression of angptl4 during isolation, but effects were reversed upon reintroduction to a social group. The findings imply that angptl4 plays a homeostatic role in response to social isolation, which varies across the lifespan. The study emphasizes the importance of social interactions for psychological well-being and highlights the negative consequences of isolation, especially in older individuals. Further research may unravel how social isolation affects angptl4 expression and its developmental and aging effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Alnassar
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Courtney Hillman
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK
| | | | - Samuel C Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - William H J Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Matthew O Parker
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK.
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Stacchini L, Catalini A, De Nicolò V, Cosma C, Gallinoro V, Ancona A, Berselli N, Caminiti M, Mazza C, Minutolo G, Cedrone F, Gianfredi V. Social Network Characteristics and Depressive Symptoms of Italian Public Health Medical Residents: The Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI). Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:881. [PMID: 37998628 PMCID: PMC10798373 DOI: 10.3390/bs13110881] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions and healthcare workers' (HWs') mental health, few studies have investigated the association between social network characteristics and HWs' mental health, particularly during the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations between public health residents' (PHRs') social network characteristics and depression. We used data from the Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI), a nationwide cross-sectional study. Social network characteristics were self-reported. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Linear and logistic models adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, and alcohol were used. A moderation analysis by sex was also performed. A total of 379 PHRs participated in the survey (58% females, median age of 30 years). More peer-to-peer (odds ratio OR = 0.62 (0.47-0.83)) and supervisor support (OR = 0.49 (0.36-0.68)), more social participation ((OR) = 0.36 95% CI (0.25-0.50)), and having a partner (OR = 0.49 (0.25-0.96)) were significantly associated with a lower risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Work-to-private-life interference was significantly associated with a higher risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (OR = 1.77 (1.28-2.45)). Promoting a supportive work environment and social participation as well as reducing work-to-private life interference can contribute to reducing the high burden among PHRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Stacchini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy (V.G.)
| | - Alessandro Catalini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60100 Ancona, Italy
| | - Valentina De Nicolò
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Cosma
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy (V.G.)
| | - Veronica Gallinoro
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy (V.G.)
| | - Angela Ancona
- School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Nausicaa Berselli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Marta Caminiti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery—Sector of Public Health, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Clara Mazza
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Minutolo
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Cedrone
- Hospital Management, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, Italy;
| | - Vincenza Gianfredi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
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Saad N, Raviv D, Mizrachi Zer-Aviv T, Akirav I. Cannabidiol Modulates Emotional Function and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Middle-Aged Female Rats Exposed to Social Isolation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15492. [PMID: 37895171 PMCID: PMC10607116 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015492] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with changes in cognitive and emotional function. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to attenuate stress and anxiety in human and animal studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of CBD among middle-aged female rats exposed to social isolation (SI) and the potential involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in these effects. Thirteen-month-old female rats were group-housed (GH) or exposed to social isolation (SI) and treated with vehicle or CBD (10 mg/kg). CBD restored the SI-induced immobility in the forced swim test and the SI-induced decrease in the expression of BDNF protein levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). CBD also increased the time that rats spent in the center in an open field, improved spatial training, and increased BDNF expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). BDNF expression was found to be correlated with an antidepressant (in the NAc) and an anxiolytic (in the mPFC, BLA, NAc) phenotype, and with learning improvement in the PFC. Together, our results suggest that CBD may serve as a beneficial agent for wellbeing in old age and may help with age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadya Saad
- Department of Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (N.S.); (D.R.); (T.M.Z.-A.)
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Danielle Raviv
- Department of Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (N.S.); (D.R.); (T.M.Z.-A.)
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Tomer Mizrachi Zer-Aviv
- Department of Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (N.S.); (D.R.); (T.M.Z.-A.)
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Irit Akirav
- Department of Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (N.S.); (D.R.); (T.M.Z.-A.)
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
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28
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Cavieres G, Bozinovic F, Bogdanovich JM, Rivera DS. Impact of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior and multifractal complexity of metabolic rate in Octodon degus. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1239157. [PMID: 37928446 PMCID: PMC10622977 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1239157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction can improve animal performance through the prevention of stress-related events, the provision of security, and the enhancement of reproductive output and survival. We investigated the effects of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavioral, cognitive, and physiological performance in the social, long-lived rodent Octodon degus. Degu pups were separated into two social stress treatments: control (CTRL) and chronically isolated (CI) individuals from post-natal and post-weaning until adulthood. We quantified anxiety-like behavior and cognitive performance with a battery of behavioral tests. Additionally, we measured their basal metabolic rate (BMR) and analyzed the multifractal properties of the oxygen consumption time series using Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, a well-known method for assessing the fractal characteristics of biological signals. Our results showed that CI induced a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviors and led to a reduction in social and working memory in male degus. In addition, CI-treated degus reduced the multifractal complexity of BMR compared to CTRL, which implies a decrease in the ability to respond to environmental stressors and, as a result, an unhealthy state. In contrast, we did not observe significant effects of social stress on BMR. Multivariate analyses showed a clear separation of behavior and physiological variables into two clusters, corresponding to CI and CTRL degus. This study provides novel insights into the effects of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior, cognitive performance, and metabolic complexity in this rodent animal model. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first study to integrate cognitive-behavioral performance and multifractal dynamics of a physiological signal in response to prolonged social isolation. These findings highlight the importance of social interactions for the well-being and overall performance of social animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grisel Cavieres
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Miguel Bogdanovich
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela S. Rivera
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
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29
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Leo Y, Compton RM, Hubbard Murdoch N, Krahn D. Community-Dwelling Older Adults Attending a Fire and Falls Health Promotion Program and the Experience of Social Isolation and Loneliness. FAMILY & COMMUNITY HEALTH 2023; 46:220-228. [PMID: 37549231 DOI: 10.1097/fch.0000000000000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Many health promotion programs are designed for older adults who live in the community. This research describes a health promotion program called "Remembering When" (a fire and fall prevention program). In 2020, a quality improvement project was developed to examine the effectiveness and impact of Remembering When among community-dwelling older adults. After analyzing the qualitative data collected for the project, an interesting observation of why older adults attended Remembering When emerged. Older adults might attend Remembering When because they experience social isolation and/or loneliness. The concepts of objective and subjective social isolation and loneliness were defined, and the implications of Remembering When around social isolation and loneliness were discussed. Secondary data analysis followed Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis steps. Four themes were generated: It is about me having choices, Joining the program as an old friend, We all need referrals , and I am housebound . Overall, 2 significant observations were made: (1) some older adults valued the opportunity to interact with Remembering When's team, which might help older adults decrease social isolation and loneliness, and (2) older adults needed more individualized programs to address their emotional and mental health and well-being needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeona Leo
- College of Nursing, University of Saskat-chewan, Saskatoon, Canada (Ms Leo and Drs Compton and Hubbard Murdoch); and Community Relations, Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon, Canada (Ms Krahn)
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30
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Hussain MA, Watson CWM, Morgan EE, Heaton RK, Letendre SL, Jeste DV, Moore DJ, Iudicello JE. Combined effects of loneliness and inflammation on depression in people with HIV. J Neurovirol 2023; 29:538-554. [PMID: 37651083 PMCID: PMC10645641 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-023-01145-z] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Loneliness is prevalent in people with HIV (PWH) and associated with adverse health-related consequences, including depression. Chronic inflammation has been linked to depression in PWH, though its association with loneliness is less well established. Simultaneous examination of inflammation, loneliness and depression is needed to clarify these relationships. This study investigated the relationship between loneliness and inflammation, and the effects of loneliness and inflammation on depression in PWH. METHODS 82 PWH who were on suppressive ART (mean age [SD] = 53.2 [9.0]) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Version 3 and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale as part of a comprehensive evaluation. Biomarkers of systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6, CCL2/MCP-1, sCD14) and coagulation (D-dimer) were measured in blood using commercial immunoassays. RESULTS Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that higher D-dimer, CCL2/MCP-1, and sCD14 were significant predictors of loneliness (ps < .05) while accounting for relevant covariates. Stepwise multiple linear regression models that included loneliness, biomarkers, and their interactions as predictors of depressive symptoms revealed significant main effects of loneliness and CCL2/MCP-1 levels (ps < .05), and a significant loneliness by D-dimer interaction (p < .05) whereby higher D-dimer was associated with increased depressive symptoms only at higher levels of loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Increased coagulation activity is associated with loneliness, and in the context of loneliness, may increase risk for depression. Increased inflammation was associated with depression suggesting potentially dissociable underlying biological processes. To the extent that these processes are modifiable, such findings could have important implications in the treatment of loneliness and depression in PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam A Hussain
- San Diego State University, University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.
| | - C Wei-Ming Watson
- San Diego State University, University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Erin E Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Robert K Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Scott L Letendre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research On Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - David J Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Jennifer E Iudicello
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
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31
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Faccio E, Bottecchia M, Rocelli M. Caring for People with Rare Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Challenges of, and Strategies for Dealing with, COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6863. [PMID: 37835133 PMCID: PMC10573057 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on everyone's lives, and patients with rare diseases (RDs) had to pay an even higher price. In this systematic review, we explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with RDs from a psychological perspective. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we retrieved articles from the Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases focusing on 'COVID-19,' 'psychology,' and 'rare diseases.' Seventeen primary articles were identified (mainly from continental Europe). The results revealed the psychological effects of the pandemic on rare disease patients, including increased anxiety, stress, and depressive moods. This review also highlighted the increased vulnerability and reduced quality of life of rare disease patients during the pandemic, as well as the importance of telecare and psychological support as critical interventions for improving their well-being. There is an urgent need for multidisciplinary research and stronger healthcare systems to meet the unique challenges of rare disease patients, who represent 3.5-5.9% of the global population.
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32
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Jimenez AM, Clayson PE, Hasratian AS, Lee J, Reavis EA, Wynn JK, Green MF, Horan WP. Neuroimaging of social motivation during winning and losing: Associations with social anhedonia across the psychosis spectrum. Neuropsychologia 2023; 188:108621. [PMID: 37321406 PMCID: PMC10527321 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108621] [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: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) have difficulty developing social relationships. This difficulty may reflect reduced response to social feedback involving functional alterations in brain regions that support the social motivation system: ventral striatum, orbital frontal cortex, insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala. Whether these alterations span PSD is unknown. METHODS 71 individuals with PSD, 27 unaffected siblings, and 37 control participants completed a team-based fMRI task. After each trial, participants received performance feedback paired with the expressive face of a teammate or opponent. A 2 × 2 (win versus loss outcome x teammate versus opponent) repeated measures ANOVA by group was performed on activation in the five key regions of interest during receipt of feedback. RESULTS Across groups, three social motivation regions, ventral striatum, orbital frontal cortex, and amygdala, showed sensitivity to feedback (significant main effect of outcome), with greater activation during win versus loss trials, regardless of whether the feedback was from a teammate or opponent. In PSD, ventral striatum and orbital frontal cortex activation to win feedback was negatively correlated with social anhedonia scores. CONCLUSIONS Patterns of neural activation during social feedback were similar in PSD, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls. Across the psychosis spectrum, activity in key social motivation regions during social feedback was associated with individual differences in social anhedonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Jimenez
- Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Peter E Clayson
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Arpi S Hasratian
- Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Junghee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eric A Reavis
- Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Wynn
- Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael F Green
- Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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33
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Fulford D, Holt DJ. Social Withdrawal, Loneliness, and Health in Schizophrenia: Psychological and Neural Mechanisms. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1138-1149. [PMID: 37419082 PMCID: PMC10483452 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Some of the most debilitating aspects of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) are the impairments in social perception, motivation, and behavior that frequently accompany these conditions. These impairments may ultimately lead to chronic social disconnection (ie, social withdrawal, objective isolation, and perceived social isolation or loneliness), which may contribute to the poor cardiometabolic health and early mortality commonly observed in SMI. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying relationships between impairments in social perception and motivation and social isolation and loneliness in SMI remain incompletely understood. STUDY DESIGN A narrative, selective review of studies on social withdrawal, isolation, loneliness, and health in SMI. STUDY RESULTS We describe some of what is known and hypothesized about the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of social disconnection in the general population, and how these mechanisms may contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and their consequences, in individuals with SMI. CONCLUSIONS A synthesis of evolutionary and cognitive theories with the "social homeostasis" model of social isolation and loneliness represents one testable framework for understanding the dynamic cognitive and biological correlates, as well as the health consequences, of social disconnection in SMI. The development of such an understanding may provide the basis for novel approaches for preventing or treating both functional disability and poor physical health that diminish the quality and length of life for many individuals with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fulford
- Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daphne J Holt
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Heng V, Zigmond M, Smeyne RJ. Neuroanatomical and neurochemical effects of prolonged social isolation in adult mice. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1190291. [PMID: 37662476 PMCID: PMC10471319 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1190291] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As social animals, our health depends in part on interactions with other human beings. Yet millions suffer from chronic social isolation, including those in nursing/assisted living facilities, people experiencing chronic loneliness as well as those in enforced isolation within our criminal justice system. While many historical studies have examined the effects of early isolation on the brain, few have examined its effects when this condition begins in adulthood. Here, we developed a model of adult isolation using mice (C57BL/6J) born and raised in an enriched environment. Methods From birth until 4 months of age C57BL/6J mice were raised in an enriched environment and then maintained in that environment or moved to social isolation for 1 or 3 months. We then examined neuronal structure and catecholamine and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels from different regions of the brain, comparing animals from social isolation to enriched environment controls. Results We found significant changes in neuronal volume, dendritic length, neuronal complexity, and spine density that were dependent on brain region, sex, and duration of the isolation. Isolation also altered dopamine in the striatum and serotonin levels in the forebrain in a sex-dependent manner, and also reduced levels of BDNF in the motor cortex and hippocampus of male but not female mice. Conclusion These studies show that isolation that begins in adulthood imparts a significant change on the homeostasis of brain structure and chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibol Heng
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael Zigmond
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Richard Jay Smeyne
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Smith KE, Graf E, Faig KE, Dimitroff SJ, Rockwood F, Hernandez MW, Norman GJ. Perceived control, loneliness, early-life stress, and parents' perceptions of stress. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13037. [PMID: 37563259 PMCID: PMC10415274 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39572-x] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of understanding what contributes to individual variability in experiences of stress. Increases in stress related to the pandemic have been especially pronounced in parents, indicating a need for research examining what factors contribute to parents' perceptions of stress. Here, we assessed the relationship between parents' perceptions of stress, control, loneliness, and experiences of childhood trauma in two populations of caregivers. In Study 1, we examined the relationship between perceptions of stress, control, loneliness, and history of early stress, along with indices of socioeconomic risk and resting parasympathetic nervous systema activity, which has been linked to variability in perceptions of stress, in caregivers of young children. Perceived control, loneliness, childhood stress, and resting parasympathetic nervous system activity predicted caregivers' stress. In Study 2, we replicated these initial findings in a second sample of caregivers. Additionally, we examined how these processes change over time. Caregivers demonstrated significant changes in perceptions of control, loneliness, and stress, and changes in control and childhood trauma history were associated with changes in perceptions of stress. Together these results indicate the importance of assessing how caregivers perceive their environment when examining what contributes to increased risk for stress. Additionally, they suggest that caregivers' stress-related processes are malleable and provide insight into potential targets for interventions aimed at reducing parents' stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Smith
- University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA.
- Rutgers University-Newark, Smith Hall Rm 341, 101 Warren St, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA.
| | - Eileen Graf
- NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kelly E Faig
- University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
| | | | | | | | - Greg J Norman
- University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
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Hong H, Guo C, Liu X, Yang L, Ren W, Zhao H, Li Y, Zhou Z, Lam SM, Mi J, Zuo Z, Liu C, Wang GD, Zhuo Y, Zhang YP, Li Y, Shui G, Zhang YQ, Xiong Y. Differential effects of social isolation on oligodendrocyte development in different brain regions: insights from a canine model. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1201295. [PMID: 37538851 PMCID: PMC10393781 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1201295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Social isolation (SI) exerts diverse adverse effects on brain structure and function in humans. To gain an insight into the mechanisms underlying these effects, we conducted a systematic analysis of multiple brain regions from socially isolated and group-housed dogs, whose brain and behavior are similar to humans. Our transcriptomic analysis revealed reduced expression of myelin-related genes specifically in the white matter of prefrontal cortex (PFC) after SI during the juvenile stage. Despite these gene expression changes, myelin fiber organization in PFC remained unchanged. Surprisingly, we observed more mature oligodendrocytes and thicker myelin bundles in the somatosensory parietal cortex in socially isolated dogs, which may be linked to an increased expression of ADORA2A, a gene known to promote oligodendrocyte maturation. Additionally, we found a reduced expression of blood-brain barrier (BBB) structural components Aquaporin-4, Occludin, and Claudin1 in both PFC and parietal cortices, indicating BBB disruption after SI. In agreement with BBB disruption, myelin-related sphingolipids were increased in cerebrospinal fluid in the socially isolated group. These unexpected findings show that SI induces distinct alterations in oligodendrocyte development and shared disruption in BBB integrity in different cortices, demonstrating the value of dogs as a complementary animal model to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying SI-induced brain dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Hong
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xueru Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liguang Yang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Bio-Med Big Data Center, Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Zhongyin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Sin Man Lam
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jidong Mi
- Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Zhentao Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cirong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yixue Li
- Bio-Med Big Data Center, Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanghou Shui
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Q. Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Castro MDL, Alves M, Papoila AL, Botelho A, Fragata J. One-Year Survival after Cardiac Surgery in Frail Older People-Social Support Matters: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4702. [PMID: 37510818 PMCID: PMC10381118 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144702] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There are increasing rates of cardiac surgery in the elderly. Frailty, depression, and social vulnerability are frequently present in older people, and should be considered while assessing risk and providing treatment options. We aimed to analyse the impact of clinically relevant variables on survival at one year, and identify areas of future intervention. We performed a prospective cohort study at a University Hospital, with a sample of 309 elective cardiac surgery patients 65 years old and over. Their socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected. Frailty prevalence was 61.3%, while depression was absent in the majority of patients. Mortality was 1.6% and 7.8% at 30 days and 12 months, respectively. After Kaplan-Meier analysis, severe frailty (p = 0.003), severe depression (p = 0.027), pneumonia until 30 days (p = 0.014), and re-operation until 12 months (p = 0.003) significantly reduced survival, while social support increased survival (p = 0.004). In the adjusted multivariable Cox regression model, EuroSCORE II (HR = 1.27 [95% CI 1.069-1.499] p = 0.006), pneumonia until 30 days (HR = 4.19 [95% CI 1.169-15.034] p = 0.028), re-intervention until 12 months (HR = 3.14 [95% CI 1.091-9.056] p = 0.034), and social support (HR = 0.24 [95% CI 0.079-0.727] p = 0.012) explained time until death. Regular screening for social support, depression, and frailty adds relevant information regarding risk stratification, perioperative interventions, and decision-making in older people considered for cardiac surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria de Lurdes Castro
- Anesthesiology Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Rua de Santa Marta, 50, 1169-024 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Alves
- Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Research Centre, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Rua Jacinta Marto, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre of Statistics and Its Applications (CEAUL), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Luisa Papoila
- Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Research Centre, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Rua Jacinta Marto, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre of Statistics and Its Applications (CEAUL), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - José Fragata
- Cardiothoracic University Clinic and Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Rua de Santa Marta, 50, 1169-024 Lisbon, Portugal
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Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Sardone R, Dibello V, Castellana F, Zupo R, Stallone R, Lampignano L, Bortone I, Mollica A, Berardino G, Ruan Q, Altamura M, Bellomo A, Daniele A, Lozupone M. Depressive and Biopsychosocial Frailty Phenotypes: Impact on Late-life Cognitive Disorders. J Alzheimers Dis 2023:JAD230312. [PMID: 37355907 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230312] [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: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
In older age, frailty is a detrimental transitional status of the aging process featuring an increased susceptibility to stressors defined by a clinical reduction of homoeostatic reserves. Multidimensional frailty phenotypes have been associated with all-cause dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), AD neuropathology, vascular dementia, and non-AD dementias. In the present article, we reviewed current evidence on the existing links among depressive and biopsychosocial frailty phenotypes and late-life cognitive disorders, also examining common pathways and mechanisms underlying these links. The depressive frailty phenotype suggested by the construct of late-life depression (LLD) plus physical frailty is poorly operationalized. The biopsychosocial frailty phenotype, with its coexistent biological/physical and psychosocial dimensions, defines a biological aging status and includes motivational, emotional, and socioeconomic domains. Shared biological pathways/substrates among depressive and biopsychosocial frailty phenotypes and late-life cognitive disorders are hypothesized to be inflammatory and cardiometabolic processes, together with multimorbidity, loneliness, mitochondrial dysfunction, dopaminergic neurotransmission, specific personality traits, lack of subjective/objective social support, and neuroendocrine dysregulation. The cognitive frailty phenotype, combining frailty and cognitive impairment, may be a risk factor for LLD and vice versa, and a construct of depressive frailty linking physical frailty and LLD may be a good dementia predictor. Frailty assessment may enable clinicians to better target the pharmacological and psychological treatment of LLD. Given the epidemiological links of biopsychosocial frailty with dementia and MCI, multidomain interventions might contribute to delay the onset of late-life cognitive disorders and other adverse health-related outcomes, such as institutionalization, more frequent hospitalization, disability, and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panza
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
- "Cesare Frugoni" Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- "Cesare Frugoni" Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- "Cesare Frugoni" Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fabio Castellana
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Zupo
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Stallone
- Neuroscience and Education, Human Resources Excellence in Research, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Luisa Lampignano
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bortone
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Anita Mollica
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Berardino
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Qingwei Ruan
- Laboratory of Aging, Anti-aging & Cognitive Performance, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical 14 College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mario Altamura
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Madia Lozupone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience "DiBraiN", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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Schütz R, Bilz L. [Loneliness in childhood and adolescence. On the prevalence of a mental health risk factor among 11- to 15-year-old German students]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023:10.1007/s00103-023-03728-x. [PMID: 37261459 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03728-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is an increasingly present topic in both public and scientific discourse. There is increasing research on the prevalence of loneliness and health-related correlates in adults. However, there are only a few findings on loneliness in childhood and adolescence in Germany. Therefore, this study aims to present findings on the prevalence of loneliness among 11- to 15-year-old German students and examines associations with socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study is a global research collaboration under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany, the study collected data from 3819 children and adolescents in grades 5, 7, and 9 (Mage = 13.5, SD = 1.6) at schools for general education. Loneliness was assessed using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale and a single item. RESULTS Of the respondents, 13.2% reported feeling lonely most of the time and 3.6% always. Loneliness was more prevalent among girls and non-binary students, as well as among older students and children and adolescents of lower socioeconomic status. DISCUSSION The findings indicate that loneliness is a widespread phenomenon among children and adolescents. The result that girls, older pupils and children, and adolescents with lower family wealth report feeling lonelier is consistent with findings from other countries and provides starting points for planning prevention measures. Further research is needed in Germany on possible health-related correlates of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Schütz
- Institut für Gesundheit, Fakultät für Soziale Arbeit, Gesundheit und Musik, Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, Universitätsplatz 1, 01968, Senftenberg, Deutschland.
| | - Ludwig Bilz
- Institut für Gesundheit, Fakultät für Soziale Arbeit, Gesundheit und Musik, Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, Universitätsplatz 1, 01968, Senftenberg, Deutschland
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Toghroli R, Aghamolaei T, Hassani L, Ramezaninejad V, Yoosefi Lebni J, NeJhaddadgar N, Mehedi N, Ziapour A. Investigating the predictors of perceived social support to control COVID-19: A qualitative study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16878. [PMID: 37274709 PMCID: PMC10234343 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16878] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Considering the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the present study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of perceived social support to prevent the further spread of the disease. Methods In the present qualitative study, a content analysis was done. To this aim, 37 Iranian subjects who had active accounts on Instagram were initially invited to participate in the study. The data were collected through face-to-face (n = 25) and telephone conversations (n = 12). A purposive sampling was used and the data collection continued until data saturation. Finally, 41 interviews were held which took 17-48 min. Results The data analysis led to the extraction of two main categories, the barriers and facilitators of perceived social support, as well as 12 subcategories. Economic issues, familial factors, socio-cultural factors, personal and psychological factors, ineffective quarantine rules, and poor management were the main barriers to perceived social support. The facilitators were divided into six categories, including familial influences, personal factors, government support, and improved occupational, social, spiritual, and emotional condition. Conclusion The findings showed that a combination of environmental and social variables might influence the COVID-19 disease, either decreasing or increasing its spread. A sound knowledge of these variables, influenced by the social context and real-life experiences during the pandemic, allows to take the right measures and enrich training programs. The prevalence of the disease can be controlled by increasing environmental and social facilitators and decreasing the influence of barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razie Toghroli
- Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Teamour Aghamolaei
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Laleh Hassani
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Health, Mother and Child Welfare Research Center Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Vahid Ramezaninejad
- Department of Political Science, Baft Branch, Islamic Azad University, Baft, Iran
| | - Javad Yoosefi Lebni
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Nazila NeJhaddadgar
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Nafiul Mehedi
- Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Arash Ziapour
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Health Institute, Imam-Ali Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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Paton SEJ, Solano JL, Coulombe-Rozon F, Lebel M, Menard C. Barrier-environment interactions along the gut-brain axis and their influence on cognition and behaviour throughout the lifespan. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2023; 48:E190-E208. [PMID: 37253482 PMCID: PMC10234620 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.220218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Environment is known to substantially alter mental state and behaviour across the lifespan. Biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and gut barrier (GB) are major hubs for communication of environmental information. Alterations in the structural, social and motor environment at different stages of life can influence function of the BBB and GB and their integrity to exert behavioural consequences. Importantly, each of these environmental components is associated with a distinct immune profile, glucocorticoid response and gut microbiome composition, creating unique effects on the BBB and GB. These barrier-environment interactions are sensitive to change throughout life, and positive or negative alterations at critical stages of development can exert long-lasting cognitive and behavioural consequences. Furthermore, because loss of barrier integrity is implicated in pathogenesis of mental disorders, the pathways of environmental influence represent important areas for understanding these diseases. Positive environments can be protective against stress- and age-related damage, raising the possibility of novel pharmacological targets. This review summarizes known mechanisms of environmental influence - such as social interactions, structural complexity and physical exercise - on barrier composition, morphology and development, and considers the outcomes and implications of these interactions in the context of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam E J Paton
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Que. (Paton, Solano, Coulombe-Rozon, Lebel, Menard)
| | - José L Solano
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Que. (Paton, Solano, Coulombe-Rozon, Lebel, Menard)
| | - François Coulombe-Rozon
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Que. (Paton, Solano, Coulombe-Rozon, Lebel, Menard)
| | - Manon Lebel
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Que. (Paton, Solano, Coulombe-Rozon, Lebel, Menard)
| | - Caroline Menard
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Que. (Paton, Solano, Coulombe-Rozon, Lebel, Menard)
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Lawrence WR, McDonald JA, Williams F, Shiels MS, Freedman ND, Lin Z, Magnani JW. Stressful Life Events, Social Support, and Incident Breast Cancer by Estrogen Receptor Status. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2023; 16:259-267. [PMID: 37067915 PMCID: PMC10159918 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-22-0472] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress affects immune function and hormonal signaling and has been hypothesized to be associated with breast cancer, although results from the few prior studies are mixed and have not examined potential differences by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Using the Women's Health Initiative study, we included 76,951 postmenopausal women followed for events for a median of 16.7 years to investigate the association between baseline self-reported stressful life events and incident breast cancer by ER status and whether the association was modified by social support. We generated Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographic, clinical, lifestyle/behavioral, and social factors to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The mean age was 63 (SD, 7.3), and majority of participants were White race (83.5%) and married or in a marriage-like relationship (63.0%). In analyses stratified by ER status, there was no relationship between stressful life events and ER-positive breast cancer. In contrast, compared with women in the lowest quartile, those in higher quartiles had an increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer, where those in quartile 4 had the highest risk (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1; HR = 1.30; 95%CI, 1.01-1.68; Ptrend = 0.050). Moreover, associations were stronger for the highest versus lowest quartile of stressful life events among widowed women (HR = 2.39; 95%CI, 1.29-4.44; Pinteraction<0.001). Association between stressful life events and ER-negative breast cancer was not modified by social support. In this cohort of postmenopausal women, higher experiences of prediagnostic stressful life events were associated with increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer. PREVENTION RELEVANCE Epidemiologic studies on the association between psychosocial stress and breast cancer risk remain inconsistent, while investigation of whether the association differs by ER status is limited. In this prospective cohort of postmenopausal women, high experiences of stressful life events were positively associated with ER-negative disease but not ER-positive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne R. Lawrence
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Jasmine A. McDonald
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Faustine Williams
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Meredith S. Shiels
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Neal D. Freedman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Basic Medicine and Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jared W. Magnani
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Global prevalence of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 107:104904. [PMID: 36563614 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the world's population ages, social isolation has continued to increase globally. However, no review exists on the prevalence of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults, and the global prevalence remains uncertain. This study aims to estimate the global prevalence of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults and to identify potential covariates including study characteristics (methodological diversity) or populations (clinical diversity) that contribute to the heterogeneity. METHODS This review searched through seven search engines and databases. The meta-analysis was conducted using the metafor package in the R software. The random-effects model was used to calculate the prevalence rates. Cochran's Q statistics and I2 statistics were used to assess the statistical heterogeneity of prevalence estimates. Studies were appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations criteria for the quality of individual articles and the certainty of the evidence, respectively. RESULTS A total of 41 studies were selected from databases and reference lists. The pooled prevalence rate was 25% (95% CI: 21.0-30.0). The sample size was found to be a significant covariate of the prevalence estimate in the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS We found 13 high-quality studies, but the overall quality of evidence very low. This study provides the prevalence of social isolation in community-dwelling older adults, identifying vulnerable groups for targeted intervention. Well-designed observational research with standard measures is recommended for future studies.
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Barrett-Young A, Ambler A, Cheyne K, Guiney H, Kokaua J, Tham YC, Williams MJA, Wilson GA, Wong TY, Poulton R. Childhood Social Isolation as a Predictor of Retinal Neuronal Thickness in Middle Age: A Lifecourse Birth Cohort Study. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:238-249. [PMID: 36800261 PMCID: PMC10073287 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001177] [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: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether childhood social isolation was associated with retinal neural layer changes in adulthood, and whether this association was independent of other childhood or adulthood risk factors, including adult social isolation. METHODS Participants were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a longitudinal population-based birth cohort from Aotearoa New Zealand ( n = 1037), born 1972 to 1973 and followed until age 45 years, with 94% of the living cohort still participating. Social isolation was recorded prospectively at ages 5, 7, 9, and 11 years, from teacher and parent report. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thicknesses were measured via optical coherence tomography at age 45 years. RESULTS Childhood social isolation was associated with thinner average RNFL ( B = -0.739, p = .02), nasal RNFL ( B = -1.118, p = .005), and inferior RNFL ( B = -1.524, p = .007), although only nasal RNFL remained significant after adjustment. These associations were not fully explained by other psychosocial or physical health risk factors in childhood or adulthood, nor were they mediated by adult loneliness or social support. CONCLUSIONS Childhood social isolation was an independent predictor of RNFL thickness in middle age. Highlighting prospective links between childhood psychosocial adversity and retinal neuronal measures will help to inform future research into the utility of retinal neuronal thickness as a biomarker for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Barrett-Young
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Antony Ambler
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Kirsten Cheyne
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hayley Guiney
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jesse Kokaua
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Va’a O Tautai—Centre for Pacific Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yih Chung Tham
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Graham A. Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tien Yin Wong
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Richie Poulton
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Lay-Yee R, Matthews T, Moffitt T, Poulton R, Caspi A, Milne B. Are trajectories of social isolation from childhood to mid-adulthood associated with adult depression or suicide outcomes. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023; 58:373-382. [PMID: 36456781 PMCID: PMC9715405 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02389-6] [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] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Social isolation has been shown to have negative effects on mental health outcomes though little is known about trajectories across the life course. We examined the relationship between trajectory groups and selected mental health outcomes in mid-adulthood. METHODS We previously created a typology of social isolation based on onset during the life course and persistence into adulthood, using group-based trajectory analysis of longitudinal data from a New Zealand birth cohort. The typology comprises four groups: 'never-isolated', 'adult-only', 'child-only', and 'persistent (child-adult) isolation'. We undertook logistic regression analyses of three mental health outcomes with trajectory group as the predictor, adjusting for sex and a range of familial and child-behavioural factors. RESULTS Lifetime suicide attempt, and depression and suicide ideation in mid-adulthood were each associated with adult-only but not child-only social isolation. Depression in mid-adulthood was also associated with persistent child-adult social isolation. CONCLUSION Although our findings are associational and not causal, they indicate that interrupting persistent social isolation may help to prevent adult depression whereas halting adult social isolation may ameliorate both depression and suicide outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lay-Yee
- Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Timothy Matthews
- Department of Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Terrie Moffitt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richie Poulton
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barry Milne
- Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Adlington K, Vasquez C, Pearce E, Wilson CA, Nowland R, Taylor BL, Spring S, Johnson S. 'Just snap out of it' - the experience of loneliness in women with perinatal depression: a Meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:110. [PMID: 36849948 PMCID: PMC9970854 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04532-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby is a time of great transition and upheaval. Women often experience social isolation and loneliness at this time and may develop depression, particularly in the postnatal period. Qualitative studies have reported that loneliness is also a feature of perinatal depression. However, until now there has been no attempt to synthesise research exploring the links between loneliness and perinatal depression. This study's aim was to explore existing qualitative evidence to answer two research questions: What are the experiences of loneliness for women with perinatal depression? What helps and what makes loneliness worse for women with perinatal depression? METHODS A qualitative meta-synthesis retrieved primary qualitative studies relevant to the research questions. Four electronic databases were systematically searched (Ovid MEDLINE®; PsycINFO; Embase; Web of Science). Papers were screened according to pre-defined inclusion criteria and assigned a quality score. Thematic analysis was used to identify major overarching themes in the literature. RESULTS Twenty-seven relevant qualitative studies were included. Themes relating to the interaction between perinatal depression and loneliness included self-isolation and hiding symptoms due to stigma of perinatal depression and fear of judgement as a 'bad mother'; a sudden sense of emotional disconnection after birth; and a mismatch between expected and actual support provided by partner, family and community. There was also a double burden of loneliness for women from disadvantaged communities, due to increased stigma and decreased social support. Validation and understanding from healthcare professionals, peer support from other mothers with experience of perinatal depression, and practical and emotional family support were all important factors that could ameliorate loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness appears to play a central role in the experience of perinatal depression based on the frequency with which it emerged in women's accounts. The findings provide a foundation for the development of further theories about the role of loneliness in perinatal depression and evidence in which future psychological and social intervention design processes can be rooted. Addressing stigma and offering culturally appropriate professional and peer support are potential targets for interventions that could help women with perinatal depression, particularly in disadvantaged communities, feel less lonely. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prospero registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php? RecordID = 251,936.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Adlington
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK. .,Section of Women's Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK. .,East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | | | - Eiluned Pearce
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claire A Wilson
- Section of Women's Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Nowland
- School of Health and Midwifery, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | | | | | - Sonia Johnson
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.,Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Ramos-Vera C, García O'Diana A, Basauri MD, Calle DH, Saintila J. Psychological impact of COVID-19: A cross-lagged network analysis from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging COVID-19 database. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1124257. [PMID: 36911134 PMCID: PMC9992548 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1124257] [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] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent health restrictions had an unprecedented impact on mental health, contributing to the emergence and reinforcement of various psychopathological symptoms. This complex interaction needs to be examined especially in a vulnerable population such as older adults. Objective In the present study we analyzed network structures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging COVID-19 Substudy over two waves (Months of June-July and November-December 2020). Methods For this purpose, we use measures of centrality (expected and bridge-expected influence) in addition to the Clique Percolation method to identify overlapping symptoms between communities. We also use directed networks to identify direct effects between variables at the longitudinal level. Results UK adults aged >50 participated, Wave 1: 5,797 (54% female) and Wave 2: 6,512 (56% female). Cross-sectional findings indicated that difficulty relaxing, anxious mood, and excessive worry symptoms were the strongest and similar measures of centrality (Expected Influence) in both waves, while depressive mood was the one that allowed interconnection between all networks (bridge expected influence). On the other hand, sadness and difficulty sleeping were symptoms that reflected the highest comorbidity among all variables during the first and second waves, respectively. Finally, at the longitudinal level, we found a clear predictive effect in the direction of the nervousness symptom, which was reinforced by depressive symptoms (difficulties in enjoying life) and loneliness (feeling of being excluded or cut off from others). Conclusion Our findings suggest that depressive, anxious, and loneliness symptoms were dynamically reinforced as a function of pandemic context in older adults in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Ramos-Vera
- Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru
- Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Peru
| | - Angel García O'Diana
- Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru
- Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Peru
| | - Miguel Delgado Basauri
- Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Peru
- Postgraduate School, Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón, Lima, Peru
| | - Dennis Huánuco Calle
- Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru
- Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Peru
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Yun S, Ogawa N, Izutsu M, Yuki M. The association between social isolation and oral health of community-dwelling older adults-A systematic review. Jpn J Nurs Sci 2023:e12524. [PMID: 36772867 DOI: 10.1111/jjns.12524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
AIM Social isolation and oral health problems commonly exist in older populations and can influence each other. However, evidence on this bidirectional correlation is scarce. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of literature in which social isolation and oral health were associated with each other separately. METHODS Electronic searches were performed through six databases. Original cross-sectional and longitudinal prospective studies that evaluated the associations between social isolation and oral health as either exposure or outcome were included. RESULTS In total, 282 articles were retrieved. Of these, 10 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study were included in the analysis. The level of evidence reported was generally moderate to strong. Most studies found that both stronger objective and perceived social isolation were associated with worse oral health in both directions. The frequency of meeting friends had an inconsistent association with oral health. CONCLUSIONS The results of our systematic review showed a bidirectional association between social isolation and oral health in independent community-dwelling older adults. Both objective and perceived social isolation are associated with oral health. As objective social isolation indicators, quality of social connectedness appears to play a more important role in the association with oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Yun
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Natsuka Ogawa
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Miku Izutsu
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michiko Yuki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Dughi T, Rad D, Runcan R, Chiș R, Vancu G, Maier R, Costin A, Rad G, Chiș S, Uleanya C, Mihaela MC. A Network Analysis-Driven Sequential Mediation Analysis of Students' Perceived Classroom Comfort and Perceived Faculty Support on the Relationship between Teachers' Cognitive Presence and Students' Grit-A Holistic Learning Approach. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:147. [PMID: 36829376 PMCID: PMC9951853 DOI: 10.3390/bs13020147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between teachers and students is critical to the learning process. Student success and learner satisfaction have consistently improved in educational situations where instructors and students connect frequently and meaningfully. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, as well as the sense of belonging concept, have received a significant amount of attention from researchers investigating online learning since its debut. The current study focuses on the CoI framework in general, and in particular on studies on teaching, social, and cognitive presences in connection to students' feeling of belonging and grit enhancement. This research investigated the opinion of 310 students at the Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad regarding their satisfaction with their teachers' presences, their academic sense of belonging, and their grit. Our methodology followed an innovative approach. First, we employed a network analysis on all subscales' mean scores, and then we performed a sequential mediation analysis based on both the network analysis results and the conclusions from the literature review. We tested whether students' perceived classroom comfort and perceived faculty support sequentially mediated the relationship between teacher's cognitive presence and students' grit. According to the scientific literature, teacher's cognitive presence consists of four fundamental categories: triggering events, exploration, integration, and resolution, which specifically the validation of knowledge by cooperation and reflection in a community of inquiry. We further tested if sense of belonging might mediate the relationship between teachers' cognitive presence and students' grit. The results show that students' perceived classroom comfort and perceived faculty support partially and significantly sequentially mediate the relationship between teachers' cognitive presence triggering events and students' grit. The results are then further used to suggest possible recommendations for designing holistic learning environments in Romanian higher education institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiberiu Dughi
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Dana Rad
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Remus Runcan
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Roxana Chiș
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Gabriela Vancu
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Roxana Maier
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Alina Costin
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Gavril Rad
- Center for Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Work, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Sabin Chiș
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
| | - Chinaza Uleanya
- Business Management, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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Social avoidance behavior modulates motivational responses to social reward-threat conflict signals: A preliminary fMRI study. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 23:42-65. [PMID: 36127489 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Social avoidance behavior (SAB) produces impairment in multiple domains and contributes to the development and maintenance of several psychiatric disorders. Social behaviors such as SAB are influenced by approach-avoidance (AA) motivational responses to affective facial expressions. Notably, affective facial expressions communicate varying degrees of social reward signals (happiness), social threat signals (anger), or social reward-threat conflict signals (co-occurring happiness and anger). SAB is associated with dysregulated modulation of automatic approach-avoidance (AA) motivational responses exclusively to social reward-threat conflict signals. However, no neuroimaging research has characterized SAB-related modulation of automatic and subjective AA motivational responses to social reward-threat conflict signals. We recruited 30 adults reporting clinical, moderate, or minimal SAB based on questionnaire cutoff scores. SAB groups were matched on age range and gender. During fMRI scanning, participants completed implicit and subjective approach-avoidance tasks (AATs), which involved more incidental or more explicit evaluation of facial expressions that parametrically varied in social reward signals (e.g., 50%Happy), social threat signals (e.g., 50%Angry), or social reward-threat conflict signals (e.g., 50%Happy + 50%Angry). In the implicit AAT, SAB was associated with slower automatic avoidance actions and weaker amygdala-pgACC connectivity exclusively as a function of social reward-threat conflict signals. In the subjective AAT, SAB was associated with smaller increases in approach ratings, smaller decreases in avoidance ratings, and weaker dlPFC-pgACC connectivity exclusively in response to social reward-threat conflict signals. Thus, SAB is associated with dysregulated modulation of automatic and subjective AA motivational sensitivity to social reward-threat conflict signals, which may be facilitated by overlapping neural systems.
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