ABSTRACT

A large literature highlights the link between cognitive function and social networks in later life. Yet there remains uncertainty about the factors driving this relationship. In the present study, we use measures of subjective cognitive decline and clinical cognitive assessments on a sample of older adults to investigate whether the relationship between cognitive function and social networks is driven by psychosocial factors. We found a consistent link between clinical cognitive assessments and social network type, but no association between subjective concerns of cognitive decline and networks. Participants who exhibited signs of clinical cognitive impairment were more likely to have restricted networks (i.e., smaller networks consisting of fewer contacts, more interconnectivity, and less social diversity) compared to their cognitively normal counterparts, regardless of subjective measures of cognitive decline – both from the participant’s perspective and study partner’s perspective. These findings suggest that neither cognitively impaired older adults nor their network members appear to consciously dissolve social ties on the basis of perceived cognitive decline. However, it remains unclear whether the association between clinical cognitive impairment and social network type indicates the protective nature of social networks against cognitive decline or a subconscious process leading to social contraction.

摘要

大量文献强调了晚年认知功能与社交网络之间的联系。然而，推动这种关系的因素仍然存在不确定性。在本研究中，我们对老年人样本使用主观认知衰退和临床认知评估的措施来调查认知功能和社交网络之间的关系是否由心理社会因素驱动。我们发现临床认知评估与社交网络类型之间存在一致的联系，但认知衰退的主观关注与网络之间没有关联。表现出临床认知障碍迹象的参与者更有可能拥有受限网络（即，由更少的联系人组成的更小的网络，更多的相互联系，和较少的社会多样性）与认知正常的同行相比，无论认知能力下降的主观措施如何——无论是从参与者的角度还是从研究伙伴的角度来看。这些发现表明，无论是认知受损的老年人还是他们的网络成员，似乎都不会因为认知能力下降而有意识地解除社会关系。然而，目前尚不清楚临床认知障碍与社交网络类型之间的关联是否表明社交网络对认知衰退或导致社交收缩的潜意识过程具有保护性。这些发现表明，无论是认知受损的老年人还是他们的网络成员，似乎都不会因为认知能力下降而有意识地解除社会关系。然而，目前尚不清楚临床认知障碍与社交网络类型之间的关联是否表明社交网络对认知衰退或导致社交收缩的潜意识过程具有保护性。这些发现表明，无论是认知受损的老年人还是他们的网络成员，似乎都不会因为认知能力下降而有意识地解除社会关系。然而，目前尚不清楚临床认知障碍与社交网络类型之间的关联是否表明社交网络对认知衰退或导致社交收缩的潜意识过程具有保护性。