Dataset Information

Cognitive Impairment and the Trajectory of Loneliness in Older Adulthood: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To examine whether the trajectory of facets of loneliness-emotional and social-varied by cognitive impairment status in older adulthood. Methods: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study 2008-2018 waves (N = 15,352). Cognitive impairment was assessed using standard cutoffs for cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia. The 11-item UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure emotional and social loneliness. Results: Using multilevel modeling, we found that CIND and dementia status were associated with higher overall, emotional, and social loneliness, controlling for physical health, social contact, and depressive symptoms. The trajectory of loneliness did not vary by cognitive status. There were modest variations by sociodemographic factors. Discussion: Persons with CIND and dementia experience heightened emotional and social loneliness, but cognitive impairment does not contribute to the worsening of loneliness. Older adults' social integration may be maintained early in cognitive impairment.

SUBMITTER: Lee JH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8606613 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cognitive Impairment and the Trajectory of Loneliness in Older Adulthood: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.

Lee Ji Hyun JH Luchetti Martina M Aschwanden Damaris D Sesker Amanda A AA Strickhouser Jason E JE Terracciano Antonio A Sutin Angelina R AR

Journal of aging and health 20210522 1

Objective: To examine whether the trajectory of facets of loneliness-emotional and social-varied by cognitive impairment status in older adulthood. Methods: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study 2008-2018 waves (N = 15,352). Cognitive impairment was assessed using standard cutoffs for cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia. The 11-item UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure emotional and social loneliness. Results: Using multilevel modeling, ...[more]

PMID: 34027689

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Project description:IntroductionPrevious studies have suggested that cognitive impairment is associated with falls in older adults. However, the consistency of results among different subgroups defined by multiple characteristics of the elderly has not yet been tested. Additionally, results are inconsistent regarding the effects of different cognitive domains on falls. Therefore, this study sought to use representative data from a nationwide study to better understand the longitudinal association between cognitive impairment and subsequent falls in older adults.MethodsThe current study was conducted based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data of respondents aged ≥60 years in 2015 and the fall data in 2018. The respondents were divided into subgroups according to different demographic characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for various confounding factors and evaluate the association between cognitive impairment and falls.ResultsOf the 5,110 respondents included in this study, 1,093 (21.39%) had falls within the last 2 years. A significant association was found between cognitive impairment and subsequent falls (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.001) after adjusting for all of the covariates related to falls. Analysis of different cognitive domains showed that orientation (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.99, P = 0.013) and memory (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.97, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with falls. In subgroup analysis, the ORs of people aged 60-74 years, male, with lower education level were 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.008), 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.98, P = 0.001), and 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.001), respectively, suggesting that the associations were also statistically significant in these subgroups. There was also a significant association both in urban (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.001) and in rural residents (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the associations between cognition and falls vary depending on the different demographic characteristics of older adults. These findings may be useful for designing more accurate identification and intervention for the fall risk for specific high-risk groups.

Project description:BackgroundChildhood experience has been suggested to affect cognitive function in later life. However, the association between childhood friendship status and cognitive ageing trajectory in middle-aged and older adults has not been fully assessed. This study examined the association between childhood friendship status and cognitive ageing trajectory and identified factors modifying this association.MethodsWe used four waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a national representative longitudinal study of adults aged 45 years or older, 2011-2018. The CHARLS included surveys on childhood friendship and cognitive assessments. Childhood friendship status was categorised as poor, fair, and good. To examine the association between childhood friendship and cognitive ageing trajectory in later life, we applied multilevel linear regression models, and explored potential influences of sociodemographic factors, health status and behaviours, and childhood conditions on this association.ResultsOf the 4,350 participants, 1,919 (44.1%) were women. The mean age was 56.29 ± 7.80 years. We found childhood friendship was significantly associated with cognitive ageing trajectory in later life, with a dose-response relationship. After adjusting for covariates, comparing to participants with poor childhood friendships, those with better childhood friendships had lower rates of cognitive decline (β = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03 to 0.22 [interaction term of fair friendship and time]; β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.28 [interaction term of good friendship and time]) and higher level of cognitive functions (β = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.58 [fair friendships]; β = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.79 [good friendships]). These associations were stronger for those who were female, less educated, and had experienced more adverse childhood experiences.ConclusionsChildhood friendship is associated with cognitive ageing in later life. Enhancing childhood friendships can play an important role to promote healthy ageing in the future.

Dataset Information

Cognitive Impairment and the Trajectory of Loneliness in Older Adulthood: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.

Publications

Cognitive Impairment and the Trajectory of Loneliness in Older Adulthood: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.

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