Abstract
BackgroundBeing alone, as measured by less frequent social interactions, has been reported to be associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline in older persons. We tested the hypothesis that feeling alone is associated with the rate of motor decline in community-dwelling older persons.MethodsAt baseline, loneliness was assessed with a 5-item scale in 985 persons without dementia participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a longitudinal community-based cohort study. Annual detailed assessment of 9 measures of muscle strength and 9 motor performances were summarized in a composite measure of global motor function.ResultsLinear mixed-effects models which controlled for age, sex and education, showed that the level of loneliness at baseline was associated with the rate of motor decline (Estimate, -0.016; S.E. 0.006, p = 0.005). For each 1-point higher level of loneliness at baseline, motor decline was 40% more rapid; this effect was similar to the rate of motor decline observed in an average participant 4 years older at baseline. Furthermore, this amount of motor decline per year was associated with about a 50% increased risk of death. When terms for both feeling alone (loneliness) and being alone were considered together in a single model, both were relatively independent predictors of motor decline. The association between loneliness and motor decline persisted even after controlling for depressive symptoms, cognition, physical and cognitive activities, chronic conditions, as well as baseline disability or a history of stroke or Parkinson's disease.ConclusionsAmong community-dwelling older persons, both feeling alone and being alone are associated with more rapid motor decline, underscoring the importance of psychosocial factors and motor decline in old age.
Highlights
Being alone, as measured by less frequent social interactions, has been reported to be associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline in older persons
Increased social engagement as measured by the frequency of late-life social activities in older individuals is associated with longevity and a decreased risk of dementia, while being alone is associated with disability and a more rapid rate of motor decline [15,16,17,18]
In a cohort of nearly 1000 older persons free of dementia at baseline, we found that a higher level of loneliness was associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline in community-dwelling elders
Summary
As measured by less frequent social interactions, has been reported to be associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline in older persons. Recent studies suggest that being alone, and self-perceived isolation i.e., loneliness, has a detrimental effect on a wide range of physical functions including sleep, immune responses, level of physical activity, cognition and risk of Alzheimer’s disease [19,20,21,22,23] These reports suggest that being alone, and loneliness might be related to motor decline in old age. In addition to functional and structural links between social and motor behavior, social activity– like physical activity-may contribute to improved motor function by increasing neuronal plasticity and protecting against tissue damage [25] Despite these reports, little is currently known about whether feeling lonely or disconnected from others and dissatisfied with social interactions is associated with motor decline in old age [23,24,26]
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