Social network characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults

Ronald E. Holtzman; George W. Rebok; Jane S. Saczynski; Anthony C. Kouzis; Kathryn Wilcox Doyle; William W. Eaton

doi:10.1093/geronb/59.6.P278

Social network characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults

Ronald E. Holtzman, George W. Rebok, Jane S. Saczynski, Anthony C. Kouzis, Kathryn Wilcox Doyle, William W. Eaton

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

181 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the relationship between social network characteristics and global cognitive status in a community-based sample of 354 adults aged 50+ and with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of 28+ at baseline. Multivariate analyses indicated that interaction in larger social networks related to better maintenance of MMSE scores and reduced odds of decline to population-based lower quartile MMSE scores at follow-up 12 years later. At follow-up, higher levels of interpersonal activity (more frequent contacts in larger social networks) and exposure to emotional support independently related positively to MMSE. The findings suggest that interaction in larger social networks is a marker that portends less cognitive decline, and that distinct associational paths link interpersonal activity and emotional support to cognitive function.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	P278-P284
Journal	Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume	59
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/59.6.P278
State	Published - Nov 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Sociology and Political Science
Life-span and Life-course Studies

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10.1093/geronb/59.6.P278

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AU - Holtzman, Ronald E.

AU - Rebok, George W.

AU - Saczynski, Jane S.

AU - Kouzis, Anthony C.

AU - Doyle, Kathryn Wilcox

AU - Eaton, William W.

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Social network characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults

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