Social network characteristics and cognitive function, decline, and mortality: A joint modeling approach.
Ruijia Chen1, Alexander Ivan B Posis2, Anna M Pederson3
1Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Summary
Strong social networks in advanced old age are linked to better cognitive function. However, these connections did not predict cognitive decline or mortality in individuals aged 90 and above.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Sociology
Background:
- Maintaining social relationships is difficult in advanced old age due to network changes.
- The association between social networks and cognitive function, decline, and mortality in the oldest adults is not well understood.
- Investigating sex/gender differences in these associations is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between social networks and cognitive function in adults aged 90 years and older.
- To determine if social networks predict cognitive decline and mortality in this population.
- To explore potential sex/gender differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- The LifeAfter90 Study included 677 multi-ethnic participants aged ≥90 years.
- Cognitive testing was conducted every 6 months from 2019-2022.
- Joint models analyzed associations between social networks, cognitive decline, and mortality, stratified by sex/gender.
Main Results:
- Baseline social network characteristics (structural and functional) were associated with higher executive function and verbal episodic memory.
- These associations were consistent across both sexes/genders.
- Social networks did not predict cognitive decline or mortality over 1.63 years of follow-up.
Conclusions:
- In adults aged 90+, social networks are linked to better baseline cognitive function.
- Social networks were not found to be predictive of short-term cognitive decline or mortality in this age group.
- Findings highlight the importance of social connections for cognitive health in the oldest old.
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