NUMBER OF FACE-TO-FACE CONTACTS PREDICTS VARIANCE IN COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Personal social networks are composed of hierarchical layers. The innermost layer typically contains five friends/relatives (Sutcliffe, Dunbar, Binder, & Arrow, 2012). Subsequent layers increase in relationship number by a multiple of 3 and decrease in emotional closeness, and contact frequency (i.e. 5 ‘intimate’, 15 ‘good’ friends). Associations exist between cognitive function and social relationships according to relationship type, frequency, and number (Kelly et al., 2017). This research investigated the ability of three social engagement indicators to predict performance in cognitive domains, controlling for sociodemographic and health-related variables. Baseline data were from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Cognitive domains were Attention/Processing Speed (Digit Symbol-Coding; Trail Making Test A), Language (30-item Boston Naming Test; Semantic Fluency—Animals), Executive (Controlled Oral Word Association Test-FAS; Trail Making Test B), Visuo-spatial (Block Design), Verbal Memory (Logical Memory Story A delayed recall; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Tests, trials 1-7), Memory (ibid. plus Benton Visual Retention Test—recognition), and Global Cognition. Engagement indicators were number of friends/relatives contacted monthly, number of monthly face-to-face contacts with friends/relatives, and having a confidant. Covariates were age, sex, years of education, and Geriatric Depression Scale score (Sheikh & Yesavage, 1986). Respondents were 873 Sydney residents aged 70 to 91 years, 56% were female. Multiple regression analysis indicated that age, years of education, Geriatric Depression Scale score and number of face-to-face contacts predicted variance in cognitive domain scores. Total variance explained by the models ranged from 14.9% to 26.5%. Reporting < 1 (n = 19) face-to-face contact each month (vs. reference ≥ 11, n = 540) predicted lower Executive function (beta = - .09, p < .01), controlling for covariates. Reporting 1 to 4 (n = 85) face-to-face contacts predicted lower Attention/Processing Speed (beta = -.09, p = .01) and Language (beta = - .09, p = .01) and Global Cognition (beta = - .08, p = .01). Fewer than five regular face-to-face contacts was associated with lower cognitive function. Type, frequency and number of social relationships should be considered in predictive models of cognitive function for older adults.