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Published on: June 30, 2014
Association of social network structure and physical function in patients with multiple sclerosis
Seth N Levin1, Claire S Riley1, Amar Dhand1
1From the Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology (S.N.L., C.S.R., C.N., L.S., K.O., V.M.L., L.L., R.S.F., W.S.V., P.L.D.J.), and The Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease Research (P.L.D.J.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Neurology (A.D.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Network Science Institute (A.D.), Northeastern University, Boston; Broad Institute (C.C.W., Z.X., P.L.D.J.), Cell Circuits Program, Cambridge, MA; and Department of Neurology (S.V., B.B., R.H., Z.X.), University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Social networks impact physical function in multiple sclerosis (MS). Close-knit social networks are linked to worse physical function, while larger, more diverse networks correlate with better outcomes in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) significantly impacts physical function.
- The role of the social environment in MS progression is increasingly recognized.
- Understanding factors influencing physical function is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between personal social network characteristics and physical function in individuals with MS.
- To determine if network structure (e.g., constraint, size) relates to physical performance in MS.
- To identify potential environmental factors that could be leveraged to improve physical function in MS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study analyzing data from two academic MS centers.
- Social network structure and health habits were assessed via questionnaire.
- NIH Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function scale was used as the primary outcome measure.
- Multivariable models and meta-analysis were employed to test associations.
Main Results:
- A meta-analysis of 263 (discovery) and 163 (extension) patients with MS was conducted.
- Higher network constraint (tightly bound networks) was associated with worse physical function (β = -0.163, p < 0.001).
- Larger network effective size (clustered groups) correlated with better physical function (β = 0.134, p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
- Personal social networks are significant environmental factors associated with physical function in MS.
- Individuals with MS and more cohesive, close-knit networks tend to exhibit poorer physical function.
- Further longitudinal research is needed to establish causality between social network structure and physical impairment in MS.
