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Investigating the trivariate reciprocal longitudinal relationships between purpose, loneliness, and cognitive
Gabrielle N Pfund1, Anthony D Ong2, Daniel K Mroczek3,4
1Department of Human Development and Family Science, Auburn University, Auburn, United States.
Summary
Maintaining a sense of purpose and reducing loneliness are crucial for cognitive health in older adults. Declines in purpose and increases in loneliness predict cognitive decline, highlighting their potential as intervention targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive decline and dementia interventions are evolving.
- Modifiable psychosocial factors are increasingly important targets.
- Sense of purpose and loneliness are potential intervention targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand the reciprocal relationship between sense of purpose, loneliness, and cognitive function.
- To investigate the impact of psychosocial factors on cognitive trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study of 3,118 older adults (Memory and Aging Project and Minority and Aging Research Study).
- Annual assessments of cognitive function and self-report measures of purpose and loneliness over 12 years.
- Trivariate random intercept cross-lagged panel models to analyze associations.
Main Results:
- Higher sense of purpose and lower loneliness were associated with better cognitive function at the between-person level.
- Decreases in sense of purpose and increases in loneliness predicted subsequent cognitive decline within individuals.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for various demographic and health factors.
Conclusions:
- Changes in sense of purpose and loneliness independently predict cognitive decline in older adults.
- Sense of purpose and loneliness are unique targets for interventions aimed at promoting cognitive health.
- Psychosocial interventions may play a vital role in mitigating age-related cognitive decline.
Keywords:
Cognitive agingCognitive declineLongitudinal designRandom intercept cross-lagged panel modelingSense of purposeMore Related Videos
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