The relationship between social interaction patterns and cognitive trajectory in older adult: evidence from ELSA

Cognitive decline poses a major public health challenge, while individual trajectories are heterogeneous and modifiable. Social engagement is a potential influnencing factors, but the long-term cognitive implications of sustained engagement in distinct modes remain unclear.To address this gap, this study investigates the association between longitudinal patterns of social interaction and domain-specific cognitive trajectories in older adults.

This study analyzed 9-year data (2012-2021) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Cognitive function was assessed across three domains: orientation (n = 2394), execution (n = 2113), and memory (immediate memory and delayed memory) (n = 2415). Participants were classified into four groups based on their longitudinal social engagement patterns: continuous online/no social interaction group, continuous face-to-face group, continuous mixed group, changes group. Growth mixture modeling identified cognitive trajectories, and multinomial logistic regression examined their association with social patterns.

Three distinct trajectories were identified in each cognitive domain. For orientation and executive function, compared to the "continuous online/no social interaction" group, membership in the "continuous face-to-face", "continuous mixed", or "changes" groups were significantly more likely to remain at a stable and high level (all ORs < 1, P < 0.05). No significant associations were found between social interaction patterns and memory trajectories (immediate memory and delayed memory).

Face-to-face social interaction was associated with greater stability and less decline in orientation and executive function among older adults. These findings underscore the importance of in-person social interaction for maintaining cognitive health and support personalized, pattern-specific recommendations for cognitive health promotion.