Genetic association of social participation with cognitive function: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Sociology

Background:

• Cognitive decline is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Existing research on the link between social participation and cognitive health yields conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between social participation and cognitive function using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
• To determine if specific types of social engagement influence cognitive decline or if cognitive status affects social behavior.

Main Methods:

• Employed a two-sample MR study design utilizing large-scale genetic datasets for cognitive performance, cognitive function, and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Primary analysis used inverse variance weighting, with sensitivity analyses conducted using weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-RAPS, MR-PRESSO, and maximum likelihood methods.

Main Results:

• Participation in sports clubs, religious groups, and other group activities was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
• Social inactivity and frequenting pubs or social clubs were linked to an accelerated cognitive decline.
• Evidence suggests cognitive improvement can lead to increased beneficial social activities and decreased pub/social club visits; Alzheimer's disease may increase pub/social club visits.

Conclusions:

• Certain forms of social participation demonstrate a protective effect against cognitive decline.
• Findings support the development of targeted social interventions to promote cognitive health in aging individuals.
• The bidirectional relationship between social engagement and cognitive status warrants further investigation.