Next Article in Journal
Oral Health Promotion under the 8020 Campaign in Japan—A Systematic Review
Previous Article in Journal
Verification of the Effectiveness of a Communication Application in Improving Social Connectedness and Physical Health among Unacquainted Older Men: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 20
Issue 3
10.3390/ijerph20031885
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

The Associations of Loneliness and Social Support with Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals with Diabetes

by
Ella Cohn-Schwartz
1,*,
Rennie Joshi
2 and
Leslie A. McClure
2
1
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
2
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031885
Submission received: 18 December 2022 / Revised: 13 January 2023 / Accepted: 14 January 2023 / Published: 19 January 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Aging)
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with significant morbidity and mortality and it is associated with poor cognitive performance in later life. This study seeks to determine the relationship between social support and cognitive function among participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We used data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, including participants with T2DM aged 45 and older (n = 4821). We examined different aspects of perceived social support, measured as structural social support (e.g., marital status), functional social support (having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability), and loneliness. We examined cognitive functioning using a six-item screener. Our results indicate that adults who felt lonely for 5–7 days per week had almost double the odds of cognitive impairment compared to those who didn’t feel lonely. These results suggest that among middle-aged and older individuals with T2DM, interventions targeting lonely adults and which aim to reduce loneliness may combat some of the risks of cognitive decline.

1. Introduction

The population is aging; older people comprise a growing segment of the population and their numbers are only expected to increase. Indeed, between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world population older than 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22% [1]. In the United States (U.S.), adults aged 65 or above constitute 16.5% of the general population [2]. Increased longevity brings with it opportunities for successful and healthy aging; however, the degree to which older adults can enjoy these opportunities depends to a large extent on their cognitive health [1]. Cognitive dysfunction is common in older age and constitutes a major public health concern worldwide as a result of global increased life expectancy and population aging [3]. Cognitive function is important for diverse life domains, and poor cognitive function is associated with reduced physical health, loss of independence, depression, and even mortality [4,5,6,7]. In addition, older people with cognitive impairment face an increased risk of developing dementia [8].
Research has shown that diabetes constitutes a major risk factor for cognitive dysfunction [9,10,11]. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with significant morbidity and mortality. It can result in long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of organs, including retinopathy with potential loss of vision, nephropathy leading to renal failure, diabetic gangrene, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease [12]. Diabetes becomes more common with increasing age [13,14]. In 2019, the estimated number of people with diabetes aged 65–99 years was 135.6 million worldwide, constituting 19.3% of older adults, and this number is expected to increase to 276.2 million by 2045 [14]. In the U.S. these numbers are even higher, with diabetes found among 25% of adults aged 65+ in the U.S. and among 16% of those aged 45–64 [15]. Among all individuals with diabetes, about 90–95% have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which encompasses individuals who have insulin resistance and usually have relative insulin deficiency [12]. T2DM is a worldwide epidemic, with growing prevalence that is expected to continue to increase over time [14]. These data point not only to the significant increase in diabetes among the aging population, but also to the inevitable public health challenges this increase will bring. Older adults with diabetes are more likely to experience an accelerated rate of cognitive dysfunction and are more likely to progress to dementia [9,10]. Prospective studies indicate that, compared to people without diabetes, individuals with diabetes have a 1.4- to 1.8-fold greater risk of cognitive impairment and are at an increased risk for accelerated cognitive decline [10,16,17], possibly due to the chronic exposure of the brain to high levels of glucose or due to insufficient insulin action in the brain [10].
It is therefore imperative to investigate factors that can attenuate the negative cognitive implications of diabetes. One meaningful, yet under-studied, factor that could help mitigate the impact of diabetes on cognitive function is the social connections of older adults. Low social support and loneliness have long been identified as harmful to cognitive function at older ages [18,19,20,21]. The cognitive enrichment framework explains this by proposing that a socially enriched environment can help preserve and improve cognitive function in older ages [22]. This approach maintains that the brains of older adults can adapt to compensate for neural changes that occur late in life [23] and that this adaptation is influenced by the social context and personal behavior of individuals. More specifically, interactions with other people can act as a form of mental stimulation, as proposed by the “use it or lose it” hypothesis [24].
Social support can be divided into functional and structural aspects of support [25]. Structural aspects concern factors such as the number of close relationships one has, living with someone, and being partnered. Functional aspects are related to the quality of ties, such as the availability of support in case of need [26]. Feelings of loneliness can also be conceptualized as a form of functional support, since they concern the perceived quality and adequacy of one’s interpersonal relationships [27]. Structural social support could be more strongly related to cognitive performance since having someone to interact with, regardless of the quality of the relationship, could be cognitively stimulating [28,29].
However, existing studies on the associations of social support and loneliness with cognitive function have been carried out among a generally older population. These studies have not focused on individuals with T2DM and did not take the presence or absence of T2DM into account. As such, it is particularly important to understand the association between social support and cognitive function among individuals with T2DM, who face a greater risk of cognitive decline. This need is further emphasized since individuals with T2DM tend to have fewer sources of social support than the general population [30] and to feel greater loneliness [31,32], a difference which can be exacerbated as they grow older and face greater losses of their sources of support [33]. The current study will advance knowledge in this field by focusing specifically on the social support, loneliness experiences, and cognitive function of older individuals with T2DM.
The current study will fill the aforementioned gaps by examining the associations of social support and loneliness of middle-aged and older people with T2DM with cognitive function. We will examine different aspects of perceived social support, measured as structural social support (e.g., number of close relatives and friends), functional social support (having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability), and loneliness. We hypothesize that: (1) participants with more social support will have lower odds of cognitive impairment than those with less social support; and (2) the association will be stronger for measures of structural support (number of friends, being partnered, living with someone) compared to functional support (availability of a caregiver) and loneliness.

2. Methods

2.1. Data and Participants

Data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were used. Details of the REGARDS study have been published elsewhere [34]. In brief, REGARDS is a cohort of English-speaking, community-dwelling, Black and White adults who are aged 45 and older and who lived in the 48 contiguous U.S. at enrollment, between 2003–2007 [34]. The REGARDS study was designed to investigate racial and regional variations in stroke mortality, and oversampled Black individuals and people living in the U.S. stroke buckle (coastal regions of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) and the rest of the stroke belt (remaining areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia; and Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee). The institutional review boards at participating institutions approved the study protocol, and all participants provided written informed consent [34]. Information about social support, socio-demographic factors, BMI, and physical exercise was obtained via a computer- assisted telephone interview and an in-person visit. [34]. A brief in-person exam, including blood pressure and physical measurements and blood and urine samples, was conducted approximately 3–4 weeks after the telephone interview. The sample for the current study included all participants with diabetes, measured as self-reported or elevated glucose (fasting glucose ≥126/non-fasting glucose ≥200) at their baseline in-home visit and had full information on the study variables (n = 4812).

2.2. Variables

Cognitive impairment. The Six-Item Screener (SIS) was used for assessment of cognitive impairment. The SIS is a test of global cognitive function that assesses recall and temporal orientation [35,36]. As REGARDS has done in other studies, we dichotomized the score of the SIS into an outcome of cognitively impaired or intact. A score of four or fewer correct answers out of a range of 0–6 indicated cognitive impairment [37,38]. The SIS has been validated against the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), other cognitive measures, and diagnoses of dementia- and nondementia-related cognitive impairment [35].
Social support. Functional support was measured with one item of care during illness or disability. Participants were asked, “If you had a serious illness or became disabled, do you have someone who would be able to provide care for you on an ongoing basis?” This item was dichotomized as care during illness or disability vs. no one to care during illness or disability. Loneliness was measured by asking participants how often they felt lonely during a typical week, with response options being: less than a day, 1–2 days, 3–4 days, and 5–7 days. Structural support was measured using three items. Partnered status was a dichotomous variable based on whether participants were married or in a marriage-like relationship vs. divorced, widowed, separated, or never been married. Number of adults in the household was examined by asking participants, “Not counting yourself, how many adults, age 18 or older currently live in the same household with you?” Because of limited variation in this item, we divided it into tertiles: 0 other adults in household, 1 other adult in household, and 2+ other adults in household [26]. Frequency of contacts was assessed by asking participants how many friends or relatives they see at least once a month.
Covariates. The analyses also took into account potential confounders due to prior evidence regarding their association with cognitive impairment: age (continuous), gender (male or female), education (less than high school, high school, some college, or college diploma), income (less than $20,000/year, $20,000–$35,000/year, $35,000–$75,000/year, or over $75,000/year), race (White or Black), region (non-belt/buckle, stroke belt, or stroke buckle), body mass index (BMI)(underweight, normal, overweight, or obese), and exercise (weekly exercise or no weekly exercise).

2.3. Data Analysis

Descriptive statistics are provided to characterize the sample included in the analysis, overall and by cognitive impairment status. Bivariate analyses examined whether participants who are impaired differ from those without impairment in relation to the study variables; t-tests were used to measure the associations with continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical or dichotomous variables. We used a hierarchical regression model to examine whether there is an association between the social support items and cognitive impairment among participants with diabetes. All models included the potential confounders described above. We first entered marital status, loneliness, and friends or relatives seen monthly. In model 2, we added the number of household adults, and in model 3, we added having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability.

3. Results

Table 1 presents the baseline characteristics for the entire sample (n = 4812) and by cognitive status. Of the whole sample, 10.7% were identified as cognitively impaired, with a score of 4 or less on the SIS. This percentage is slightly higher compared to the 8% rate of cognitive impairment found in the general population of REGARDS participants [9,37]. Over half of the participants were married, with the remainder predominantly being widowed. Among participants with diabetes who were cognitively impaired, a statistically significantly smaller proportion were married adults. Participants with diabetes who were not impaired reported having 7.6 friends or relatives seen at least monthly, while those who were impaired reported 6.8 (p = 0.026). Less than a third of the participants who were not impaired reported living alone, while among those who were cognitively impaired, a higher proportion lived alone (27% versus 33%, respectively). Impaired participants also reported feeling lonely nearly twice as frequently as non-impaired participant (7% vs. 4% for 5–7 days weekly). The two groups did not significantly differ in their frequency of having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability.
Table 1 also shows that the sample was comprised of more women than men; this did not differ by cognitive status. Being cognitively impaired was associated with having significantly lower educational attainment. The average age of the sample was 65.6 (SD = 8.6) and participants who were cognitively impaired were older compared to adults who were not impaired (average age 69 (SD = 9.0) vs. 65 (SD = 8.5). Participants with T2DM and cognitive impairment had a lower income and were more frequently Black compared to non-impaired participants, but the two groups did not differ in relation to their region of residence. The two groups also differed in regards to medical and lifestyle factors, with the participants with T2DM and cognitive impairment being less frequently obese and reporting less frequent weekly exercise.
Table 2 presents the hierarchical multivariable regression assessing the association between cognitive impairment and the social support variables. All models included potential confounders: gender, age, education, income, race, region, BMI, and exercise. The first model included the structural variables of marital status and number of friends and relatives seen weekly, and the functional aspect of loneliness. The results indicated that being married or having more close friends and relatives were not associated with cognitive impairment. Loneliness was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment, such that participants with T2DM who reported feeling lonely for 5–7 days in a week had almost twice the odds of cognitive impairment compared to those who reported feeling lonely less than one day per week (OR = 1.91, p = 0.002, CI: 1.28–2.86). The structural support indicator number of adults living in the household, added in model 2, was not statistically significantly associated with cognitive impairment. The third model, which included the functional support indicator of having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability, was also not associated with cognitive impairment. In the full model, being lonely for 5–7 days per week remained significantly associated with cognitive impairment, and the magnitude of the association was unchanged (OR = 1.92, p = 0.002, CI: 1.28–2.87).

4. Discussion

Given the increased risks of cognitive dysfunction faced by individuals with T2DM, and the increased prevalence of T2DM among an aging population, it is crucial to find ways to help this population in the face of their greater vulnerability. An investigation of middle-aged and older adults is particularly warranted as the number of older adults living with diabetes is rapidly increasing, as are the risks of cognitive dysfunction when adults reach later life. The current study examined both structural support, such as the number of close friends and relatives and marital status, and functional support, namely the availability of a caregiver and loneliness experiences. Our results identified loneliness as associated with cognitive impairment among participants with T2DM.
As we hypothesized, cognitive impairment among participants with T2DM was associated with social support. However, unlike our second supposition, cognitive impairment was not associated with the structural aspects of support but rather with loneliness, which describes a more subjective perception of the quality of one’s social environment. In particular, adults who reported feeling lonely at the highest frequency, 5–7 days per week, had almost twice the odds of cognitive impairment compared to those who reported feeling lonely less than one day per week. These findings suggest that it isn’t necessarily the presence or absence of others that influences impairment, but rather that the perception of loneliness is more relevant. Although previous investigations pointed to the importance of having someone to interact with, our findings emphasize that having a support network that matches one’s expectation should also be measured and focused upon in future studies and interventions. Various mechanisms may underlie this association. For example, people with T2DM who are very lonely may have poorer diabetes self-management, less glycemic control, and reduced treatment adherence, and they may adopt a less active lifestyle, which are crucial aspects of diabetes management [39,40]. They could have a less available social support network, which would impede their ability to implement and sustain key behaviors in order to control their blood glucose, leading to worse cognitive health outcomes [39,40,41,42,43,44]. Accordingly, frequent loneliness among individuals with diabetes has been associated with low medication adherence and not exercising regularly [31]. Loneliness may also affect cognition through depression. People with T2DM experiencing loneliness may also be depressed, as loneliness is a major risk factor for depression and has been shown to be predictive of the development of depressive symptoms and depression [45]. For example, a longitudinal study among 285 adults aged 60–90 found that loneliness affected the prognosis of depression and the severity of its symptoms and was associated with poorer outcomes after two years [46]. In turn, being depressed is an emotional state which can harm cognitive function and lead to cognitive impairment [22,47]. Future research could examine depression as a mediator in the association of social support and loneliness among people with T2DM.
These results can provide a foundation on which to build better-targeted and more effective interventions aimed at improving the cognitive function of older adults with T2DM. These insights can inform practitioners to especially focus on perceptions of loneliness among individuals with T2DM. Interventions for middle-aged and older individuals with T2DM should target those who suffer from frequent loneliness, which may possibly mitigate some of the risk of cognitive decline. It is important to identify lonely adults by asking them whether they feel lonely, isolated, or left out and how often they experience those feelings. Various interventions, such as group therapy and internet or telephone-based peer support, may be useful in alleviating some of the loneliness that may plague individuals with T2DM as they age [48,49].
The current findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s limitations. Cognitive function was measured using a single indicator that assesses global cognitive performance. Although the Six-Item Screener has been shown to be effective in capturing cognitive impairment [35], it is a single score and therefore cannot differentiate between various aspects of cognitive function [18]. Thus, future research should examine the associations of social support and different aspects of cognition. Additionally, this was a cross-sectional study, and therefore, it was not possible to determine the temporality between social support and cognitive impairment, as it is possible that, in addition to the effect of loneliness on cognitive impairment, individuals with T2DM who are cognitively impaired may experience deteriorations in their feelings of loneliness. Therefore, future research should take the issue of reverse causality into account, as well as consider examining cognitive functioning over time. An additional issue is that the data was collected between 2003 and 2007, while the COVID-19 pandemic changed many facets of society, relations, and well-being. Thus, future studies should examine the current research questions both during and after the pandemic.
The research described herein also has strengths. The cohort is well-described and includes a large sample of Black and White adults aged 45 and older. The Six-Item Screener has been shown to be a good marker of cognitive functioning. Further, a number of potential confounders were measured and included in the analyses.
To conclude, diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with significant morbidity and mortality and is associated with poor cognitive performance and cognitive decline [9,16]. It is thus imperative to find factors that can attenuate the negative cognitive implications of diabetes. The results of the current study indicate that among people with T2DM, frequent loneliness was associated with nearly double the odds of having cognitive impairment. These findings indicate that combatting loneliness among middle-aged and older individuals with diabetes may help improve their cognitive function. Because T2DM is related to an increased risk of cognitive impairment, discovering the association of social factors with cognitive functioning within the context of this disease may lead not only to better understanding of individuals with diabetes but also to the development of targeted interventions to enhance their cognitive functioning and possibly their everyday functioning and quality of life as a consequence.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, E.C.-S. and L.A.M.; methodology, E.C.-S., R.J. and L.A.M.; formal analysis, R.J. and L.A.M.; data curation, L.A.M.; writing—original draft preparation, E.C.-S.; writing—review and editing, R.J. and L.A.M.; supervision, L.A.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board of University of Alabama at Birmingham (protocol code IRB-020925004, 15 September 2022).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data is available by collaborating with REGARDS investigators, through contact with: [email protected]. For additional information see: https://www.uab.edu/soph/regardsstudy/researchers (accessed on 1 January 2023).

Acknowledgments

This research project is supported by cooperative agreement U01 NS041588 co-funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NINDS or the NIA. Representatives of the NINDS were involved in the review of the manuscript but were not directly involved in the collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data. The authors thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the REGARDS study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating REGARDS investigators and institutions can be found at: https://www.uab.edu/soph/regardsstudy (accessed on 1 January 2023). The contribution of E. Cohn-Schwartz was supported by the Ben-Gurion/Philadelphia Academic Bridge grant for travel from BGU to Philadelphia.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Ageing and Health. 2018. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health (accessed on 31 August 2019).
  2. U.S. Census Bureau. Quick Facts. 2020. Available online: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219 (accessed on 1 November 2021).
  3. Deary, I.J.; Corley, J.; Gow, A.J.; Harris, S.E.; Houlihan, L.M.; Marioni, R.E.; Penke, L.; Rafnsson, S.B.; Starr, J.M. Age-associated cognitive decline. Br. Med. Bull. 2009, 92, 135–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Schwartz, E.; Khalaila, R.; Litwin, H. Contact frequency and cognitive health among older adults in Israel. Aging Ment. Health 2019, 23, 1008–1016. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Schupf, N.; Tang, M.X.; Albert, S.M.; Costa, R.; Andrews, H.; Lee, J.H.; Mayeux, R. Decline in cognitive and functional skills increases mortality risk in nondemented elderly. Neurology 2005, 65, 1218–1226. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Luppa, M.; Luck, T.; Weyerer, S.; König, H.H.; Brähler, E.; Riedel-Heller, S.G. Prediction of institutionalization in the elderly. A systematic review. Age Ageing 2009, 39, 31–38. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  7. Ayalon, L.; Shiovitz-Ezra, S.; Roziner, I. A cross-lagged model of the reciprocal associations of loneliness and memory functioning. Psychol. Aging 2016, 31, 255–261. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Kravitz, E.; Schmeidler, J.; Beeri, M.S. Cognitive decline and dementia in the oldest-old. Rambam Maimonides Med. J. 2012, 3, e0026. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  9. Glasser, S.P.; Wadley, V.; Judd, S.; Kana, B.; Prince, V.; Jenny, N.; Kissela, B.; Safford, M.; Prineas, R.; Howard, G. The association of statin use and statin type and cognitive performance: Analysis of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study. Clin. Cardiol. 2010, 33, 280–288. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Cukierman-Yaffe, T. Diabetes, dysglycemia and cognitive dysfunction. Diabetes Metab. Res. Rev. 2014, 30, 341–345. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Zhang, L.; Yang, J.; Liao, Z.; Zhao, X.; Hu, X.; Zhu, W.; Zhang, Z. Association between diabetes and cognitive function among people over 45 years old in china: A cross-sectional study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1294. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  12. American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 2014, 37 (Suppl. S1), S81–S90. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. OECD. Health at a Glance 2019: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing. 2019. Available online: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance_19991312 (accessed on 15 October 2021).
  14. International Diabetes Federation. International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, 9th ed.; International Diabetes Federation: Brussels, Belgium, 2019. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Caspard, H.; Jabbour, S.; Hammar, N.; Fenici, P.; Sheehan, J.J.; Kosiborod, M. Recent trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the association with abdominal obesity lead to growing health disparities in the USA: An analysis of the NHANES surveys from 1999 to 2014. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 2018, 20, 667–671. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  16. Cukierman, T.; Gerstein, H.C.; Williamson, J.D. Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes—Systematic overview of prospective observational studies. Diabetologia 2005, 48, 2460–2469. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  17. Gokce, S.; Barutcu, C.D. Evaluation of cognitive functions of individuals older than 65 with diagnosis of diabetes. Am. J. Alzheimer’s Dis. Other Dement. 2019, 34, 171–175. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  18. Cohn-Schwartz, E.; Levinsky, M.; Litwin, H. Social network type and subsequent cognitive health among older Europeans. Int. Psychogeriatr. 2021, 33, 495–504. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  19. Kelly, M.E.; Duff, H.; Kelly, S.; McHugh Power, J.E.; Brennan, S.; Lawlor, B.A.; Loughrey, D.G. The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: A systematic review. Syst. Rev. 2017, 6, 259. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Crooks, V.C.; Lubben, J.; Petitti, D.B.; Little, D.; Chiu, V. Social network, cognitive function, and dementia incidence among elderly women. Am. J. Public Health 2008, 98, 1221–1227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Zhong, B.L.; Chen, S.L.; Tu, X.; Conwell, Y. Loneliness and cognitive function in older adults: Findings from the chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey. J. Gerontol. —Ser. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2017, 72, 120–128. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  22. Hertzog, C.; Kramer, A.F.; Wilson, R.S.; Lindenberger, U. Enrichment effects on adult cognitive development. Psychol. Sci. Public Interest 2009, 9, 1–65. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  23. Park, D.C.; Reuter-Lorenz, P. The adaptive brain: Aging and neurocognitive scaffolding. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2009, 60, 173–196. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Hultsch, D.F.; Hertzog, C.; Small, B.J.; Dixon, R.A. Use it or lose it: Engaged lifestyle as a buffer of cognitive decline in aging? Psychol. Aging 1999, 14, 145–263. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Antonucci, T.C.; Ajrouch, K.J.; Birditt, K.S. The convoy model: Explaining social relations from a multidisciplinary perspective. Gerontologist 2014, 54, 82–92. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  26. Mondesir, F.L.; Carson, A.P.; Durant, R.W.; Lewis, M.W.; Safford, M.M.; Levitan, E.B. Association of functional and structural social support with medication adherence among individuals treated for coronary heart disease risk factors: Findings from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0198578. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  27. Khalaila, R.; Vitman-schorr, A.; Cohn-schwartz, E. A prospective association between tooth status and cognitive performance among older adults in Europe. Aging Ment. Health 2021, 26, 499–506. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  28. Evans, I.E.M.; Martyr, A.; Collins, R.; Brayne, C.; Clare, L. Social isolation and cognitive function in later life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Alzheimer’s Dis. 2018, 70 (Suppl. S1), S119–S144. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  29. Windsor, T.D.; Gerstorf, D.; Pearson, E.; Ryan, L.H.; Anstey, K.J. Positive and negative social exchanges and cognitive aging in young-old adults: Differential associations across family, friend, and spouse domains. Psychol. Aging 2014, 29, 28–43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  30. Hempler, N.F.; Ekholm, O.L.A.; Willaing, I. Differences in social relations between persons with type 2 diabetes and the general population. Scand. J. Public Health 2013, 41, 340–343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  31. Avci, D.K. Evaluation of the relationship between loneliness and medication adherence in patients with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study. J. Int. Med. Res. 2018, 46, 3149–3161. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  32. Kobos, E.; Szewczyk, A.; Kokoszka-Paszkot, J.; Dziedzic, B. Factors associated with loneliness in patients with diabetes mellitus. Nurs. Open 2021, 8, 517–524. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Wrzus, C.; Hänel, M.; Wagner, J.; Neyer, F.J. Social network changes and life events across the life span: A meta-analysis. Psychol. Bull. 2013, 139, 53–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Howard, V.J.; Cushman, M.; Pulley, L.V.; Gomez, C.R.; Go, R.C.; Prineas, R.J.; Graham, A.; Moy, C.S.; Howard, G. The reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study: Objectives and design. Neuroepidemiology 2005, 25, 135–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Callahan, C.M.; Unverzagt, F.W.; Hui, S.L.; Anthony, J. Six-item screener to identify cognitive impairment among potential subjects for clinical research. Med. Care 2002, 40, 771–781. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  36. Wilber, S.T.; Carpenter, C.R.; Hustey, F.M. The six-item screener to detect cognitive impairment in older emergency department patients. Acad. Emerg. Med. 2008, 15, 613–616. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Kent, S.T.; Mcclure, L.A.; Crosson, W.L.; Arnett, D.K.; Wadley, V.G.; Sathiakumar, N. Effect of sunlight exposure on cognitive function among depressed and non-depressed participants: A REGARDS cross-sectional study. Environ. Health 2009, 8, 34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  38. Zhu, W.; Howard, V.J.; Wadley, V.G.; Hutto, B.; Blair, S.N.; Vena, J.E.; Colabianchi, N.; Rhodes, D.; Hooker, S.P. Association between objectively measured physical activity and cognitive function in older adults—The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2015, 63, 2447–2454. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  39. Strom, J.L.; Egede, L.E. The impact of social support on outcomes in adult patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. Curr. Diabetes Rep. 2012, 12, 769–781. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  40. Spencer-Bonilla, G.; Ponce, O.J.; Rodriguez-Gutierrez, R.; Alvarez-Villalobos, N.; Erwin, P.J.; Larrea-Mantilla, L.; Rogers, A.; Montori, V.M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of trials of social network interventions in type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open 2017, 7, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  41. Funnell, M.M. Peer-based behavioural strategies to improve chronic disease self-management and clinical outcomes: Evidence, logistics, evaluation considerations and needs for future research. Fam. Pract. 2010, 27 (Suppl. S1), 17–22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  42. Zhang, X.; Norris, S.L.; Gregg, E.W.; Beckles, G. Social support and mortality among older persons with diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2007, 33, 273–281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Liu, L. Social connections, diabetes mellitus, and risk of mortality among white and African-American adults aged 70 and older: An eight-year follow-up study. Ann. Epidemiol. 2011, 21, 26–33. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Gallant, M.P. The influence of social support on chronic illness self-management: A review and directions for research. Health Educ. Behav. 2003, 30, 170–195. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Segel-Karpas, D.; Cohn-Schwartz, E.; Ayalon, L. Self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms: The mediating role of loneliness. Aging Ment. Health 2022, 26, 1495–1501. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  46. Holvast, F.; Burger, H.; Waal, M.M.W.; De Marwijk, H.W.J.; Van Comijs, H.C.; Verhaak, P.F.M. Loneliness is associated with poor prognosis in late-life depression: Longitudinal analysis of the Netherlands study of depression in older persons. J. Affect. Disord. 2015, 185, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  47. Cohn-Schwartz, E. Pathways from social activities to cognitive functioning: The role of physical activity and mental health. Innov. Aging 2020, 4, igaa015. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  48. Fakoya, O.A.; Mccorry, N.K.; Donnelly, M. Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: A scoping review of reviews. BMC Public Health 2020, 20, 129. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  49. Van Dam, H.A.; Horst, F.G. Van Der, Knoops, L.; Ryckman, R.M.; Crebolder, H.F.J.M.; Borne, B.H.W. Van Den. Social support in diabetes: A systematic review of controlled intervention studies. Patient Educ. Couns. 2005, 59, 1–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Table
Table 1. Sample characteristics overall and by cognitive status among REGARDS participants.
Table 1. Sample characteristics overall and by cognitive status among REGARDS participants.
CharacteristicsAll Subjects
(N = 4812)		Intact Cognitive Status
(N = 4297, 89.3%)		Impaired Cognitive Status (N = 515; 10.7%)p-Value
N (%)\M (SD)N (%)\M (SD)N (%)\M (SD)
Social support
Marital Status: <0.001
Married2643 (54.9)2400 (55.9)243 (47.2)
Single275 (5.7)242 (5.6)33 (6.4)
Other1894 (39.4)1655 (38.5)239 (46.4)
No. of close friends or relatives seen at least monthly 7.5 (7.7)7.6 (7.7)6.8 (7.5)0.026
No. of other adults in household: 0.024
01345 (28.0)1175 (27.3)170 (33.0)
12575 (53.5)2316 (53.9)259 (50.3)
2+892 (18.5)806 (18.8)86 (16.7)
Loneliness: <0.001
<1 day3549 (73.8)3210 (74.7)339 (65.8)
1–2 days809 (16.8)704 (16.4)105 (20.4)
3–4 days246 (5.1)211 (4.9)35 (6.8)
5–7 days208 (4.3)172 (4.0)36 (6.9)
Having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability: 0.457
Yes4144 (86.1)3706 (86.3)438 (85.1)
No668 (13.9)591 (13.8)77 (15.0)
Demographics
Gender:
Female2543 (52.9)2260 (52.6)283 (55.0)0.311
Male2269 (47.1)2037 (47.4)232 (45.0)
Education: <0.001
Less than High School901 (18.7)718 (16.7)183 (35.5)
High School1361 (28.3)1216 (28.3)145 (28.2)
Some College1270 (26.4)1174 (27.3)96 (18.6)
College Diploma1280 (26.6)1189 (27.7)91 (17.7)
Age65.6 (8.6)65.2 (8.5)68.6 (9.0)<0.001
Income: <0.001
Less than $20,000/year 1186 (24.7)1013 (23.6)173 (33.6)
$20,000–$35,000/year1316 (27.4)1160 (27.0)156 (30.3)
$35,000–$75,000/year1282 (26.6)1203 (28.0)79 (15.3)
Over $75,000/year459 (9.5)439 (10.2)20 (3.9)
Refused569 (11.8)482 (11.2)87 (16.9)
Race: <0.001
Black2792 (58.0)2401 (55.9)391 (75.9)
White2020 (42.0)1896 (44.1)124 (24.1)
Region: 0.289
Non-Belt/Buckle 2043 (42.5)1833 (42.7)210 (40.8)
Stroke Belt 1710 (35.5)1511 (35.2)199 (38.6)
Stroke Buckle1059 (22.0)953 (22.2)106 (20.6)
BMI: <0.001
Normal518 (10.8)432 (10.1)86 (16.7)
Overweight1447 (30.1)1277 (29.7)170 (33.0)
Obese2847 (59.2)2588 (60.2)259 (50.3)
Weekly exercise: 0.041
≥4 times1149 (23.9)1020 (23.7)129 (25.1)
1–3 times1678 (34.9)1524 (35.5)154 (29.9)
None1985 (41.3)1753 (40.8)232 (45.1)
BMI = body mass index. p-values for categorical variables provided from a chi-squared test statistic and for continuous variables provided from a t-test statistic calculated for each variable by cognitive status. p-values in bold indicate values that are significant at α = 0.05.
Table
Table 2. Multivariable models of association between cognitive impairment and social variables among REGARDS participants (n = 4812).
Table 2. Multivariable models of association between cognitive impairment and social variables among REGARDS participants (n = 4812).
Model 1: Marital Status, Lonely Days, Friends or Relatives Seen MonthlyModel 2: Model 1 + No. of Household AdultsModel 3: Model 2 + Having a Caregiver in Case of Sickness or Disability
ParameterORLCIUCIpORLCIUCIpORLCIUCIp
Marital Status
Unmarried vs. Married0.990.791.230.92070.940.721.2320.66050.940.721.240.6698
Lonely days per week
1–2 days vs. less than 1 day1.250.981.600.07201.250.981.6030.07111.260.981.610.0700
3–4 days vs. less than 1 day1.290.871.920.20301.300.871.9270.20031.300.871.930.1974
5–7 days vs. less than 1 day1.911.282.860.00151.911.282.8490.00161.921.282.870.0016
Friends or relatives seen monthly0.990.981.000.11010.990.981.0030.11550.990.981.000.1140
No. of household adults
0 vs. 2+ 1.210.881.6740.24821.210.881.680.2458
1 vs. 2+ 1.140.871.4900.33381.140.871.490.3320
Having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability 0.980.741.290.8725
Nagelkerke R2 0.0080 0.014 0.115
Notes. OR = odds ratio. p = p-value. Adjusted for gender, age, education, income, race, region, BMI, and exercise. ORs in bold have CI’s which do not overlap a null value.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cohn-Schwartz, E.; Joshi, R.; McClure, L.A. The Associations of Loneliness and Social Support with Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals with Diabetes. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031885

AMA Style

Cohn-Schwartz E, Joshi R, McClure LA. The Associations of Loneliness and Social Support with Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals with Diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(3):1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031885

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cohn-Schwartz, Ella, Rennie Joshi, and Leslie A. McClure. 2023. "The Associations of Loneliness and Social Support with Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals with Diabetes" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 3: 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031885

APA Style

Cohn-Schwartz, E., Joshi, R., & McClure, L. A. (2023). The Associations of Loneliness and Social Support with Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Older Individuals with Diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031885

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop