Changes in Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Social Support: A Gender-Disaggregated Analysis of Their Associations With Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Limited evidence exists on the gender-specific impact of changes in loneliness, social isolation, and social support on dementia risk. We examined these changes and their relationships with dementia and cognitive decline.

Methods

Data from over 12,000 community-dwelling Australians aged 70+ years without significant cognitive impairment at enrolment were analysed. Loneliness, social isolation, and social support were self-reported at baseline and ∼2 years later (social isolation and social support) or ∼3 years later (loneliness), classified as never, transient, incident, or persistent. Dementia diagnosis followed DSM-IV criteria, adjudicated by an expert panel. Gender-disaggregated Cox proportional hazards regressions were conducted, adjusting for age and other de

SUBMITTER: Htun HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11882408 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature