Abstract
BackgroundSocial networks can change with age, for reasons that are adaptive or unwanted. Social engagement is beneficial to both mental health and cognition, and represents a potentially modifiable factor. Consequently this study explored this association and assessed whether the relationship between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mood problems was mediated by social networks.MethodsThis study includes an analysis of data from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study Wales (CFAS Wales). CFAS Wales Phase 1 data were collected from 2010 to 2013 by conducting structured interviews with older people aged over 65 years of age living in urban and rural areas of Wales, and included questions that assessed cognitive functioning, mood, and social networks. Regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between individual variables and the mediating role of social networks.ResultsHaving richer social networks was beneficial to both mood and cognition. Participants in the MCI category had weaker social networks than participants without cognitive impairment, whereas stronger social networks were associated with a decrease in the odds of experiencing mood problems, suggesting that they may offer a protective effect against anxiety and depression. Regression analyses revealed that social networks are a significant mediator of the relationship between MCI and mood problems.ConclusionsThese findings are important, as mood problems are a risk factor for progression from MCI to dementia, so interventions that increase and strengthen social networks may have beneficial effects on slowing the progression of cognitive decline.
Highlights
Social networks can change with age, for reasons that are adaptive or unwanted
The analyses showed that social network score was associated with slightly lower odds of having symptoms of anxiety (OR = 0.93, CI = 0.90-0.97, p < .001) and depression (OR = 0.94, CI = 0.92-0.97, p < .001); as social network score increases, the odds of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression are lower
Our analyses suggest that social networks mediate the relationship between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and anxiety (Fig. 1, panel a), and this relationship is significant according to Sobel’s test (z’ = 2.55, p = .010)
Summary
Social networks can change with age, for reasons that are adaptive or unwanted. Social engagement is beneficial to both mental health and cognition, and represents a potentially modifiable factor. Whilst most older people do have a significant number of relationships, there is a negative association between age and social network size [5] as older people experience a reduction in the size of their social networks, and are more likely to disengage socially than younger people [6]. This may be due to the death of friends and family members, problems getting out of the house, a loss of confidence, or a lack of opportunities for social interaction. Older people may perform a selective ‘pruning’ process where contact is lost with peripheral
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