Social Networks and Cognitive Function: An Evaluation of Social Bridging and Bonding Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Social connectedness has been linked prospectively to cognitive aging, but there is little agreement about the social mechanisms driving this relationship. This study evaluated 9 measures of social connectedness, focusing on 2 forms of social enrichment-access to an expansive and diverse set of loosely connected individuals (i.e., social bridging) and integration in a supportive network of close ties (i.e., social bonding).

Research design and methods

This study used egocentric network and cognitive data from 311 older adults in the Social Networks in Alzheimer Disease study. Linear regressions were used to estimate the association between social connectedness and global cognitive function, episodic memory, and executive function.

Results

Mea

SUBMITTER: Perry BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9290895 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature