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Living Alone and Dementia Incidence: A Clinical-Based Study in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Giulia Grande1,2, Davide Liborio Vetrano2,3, Ilaria Cova1

  • 11 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|May 10, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Living alone increases dementia risk by 50% in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This living situation also anticipates dementia diagnosis by one year, highlighting the importance of social context in cognitive health.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Social isolation and living alone are linked to adverse health outcomes, particularly in older adults.
  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of living alone on dementia development in individuals diagnosed with MCI.
  • To determine if living situation is an independent risk factor for dementia progression in MCI patients.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving 345 outpatients with MCI.
  • Data collected included living situation (alone vs. with others), clinical, and neuropsychological assessments.
  • Cox and Laplace regression analyses were used to assess dementia development and time-to-diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Living alone was associated with a 50% increased likelihood of developing dementia (HR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1) after adjusting for covariates.
  • Individuals with MCI living alone were diagnosed with dementia approximately one year earlier than those living with someone (P = .012).
  • Fifty percent of participants developed dementia during the average 2.8-year follow-up period.

Conclusions:

  • Living alone is a significant risk factor for accelerated dementia development in people with MCI.
  • The findings underscore the critical role of living situation in identifying at-risk individuals for targeted dementia prevention and care strategies.
  • These results support previous population-based studies linking social factors to dementia risk.
Keywords:
dementialiving situationlongitudinal studymild cognitive impairmentprevention

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