Social engagement and loneliness are differentially associated with neuro-immune markers in older age: Time-varying associations from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to explore time-varying associations between social engagement, living status and loneliness and neuro-immune markers in older adults, and ascertain whether results are explained by socioeconomic position, health behaviours or depression.

Methods

We analysed blood samples from 8780 adults aged 50 and above from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing across three waves of data collection: 2004/5, 2008/9 and 2012/2013. We used fixed effects modelling to estimate the relationship between loneliness, social isolation, living alone and levels of fibrinogen, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP), whilst accounting for all time-invariant and identified time-varying confounders.

Results

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SUBMITTER: Walker E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6997881 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature