A - 84 Associations between Social Vulnerability, Adaptive Functioning, and Personal Distress in Non-Demented Older Adults

Abstract

Abstract Objective Though social vulnerability is associated with cognitive decline in older adults, its correlation with socioemotional and functional changes, both common in neurogenerative diseases, is often overlooked. We sought to elucidate the interplay between these critical domains in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive compromise, including participants who presented with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or were cognitively unimpaired (CU), with implications for enhancing risk detection in vulnerable populations. Method Participants (N = 97; Mage = 74.64 ± 7.42 years; Meducation = 15.76 ± 2.42 years; 74.2% female) were community-dwelling older adults, along with their informants, who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing and responded to the Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS15), an informant-reported assessment designed to identify potential victims of exploitation. A Kruskal-Wallis test determined group differences on SVS15 (CU, SCD, MCI). Spearman correlations tested relationships among SVS15 and adaptive functioning (Assessment of Functional Capacity Interview, Financial Capacity Instrument) and personal distress, a measure of the tendency to experience anxiety/distress in response to others’ suffering (Interpersonal Reactivity Index–Personal Distress). Results SVS15 scores significantly differed across diagnostic groups, H(2) = 7.060, p < 0.05, with the MCI group performing significantly worse than the CU group, H(2) = 17.703, p < 0.05. SVS15 was significantly associated with worse functional (r = 0.571, p < 0.001) and financial (r = −0.224, p = 0.027) capacity and heightened personal distress (r = 0.390, p < 0.001). Conclusions Increased social vulnerability is associated with functional impairment and personal distress in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Older adults with elevated emotional reactivity in distressing situations and lower levels of functional and financial capacity may be more susceptible to exploitation.