Marko Elovainio1,2, Andrew Sommerlad3, Christian Hakulinen1, Laura Pulkki-Råback1, Marianna Virtanen4, Mika Kivimäki5,6, Archana Singh-Manoux5,7. 1. Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK. 4. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. 6. Clinicum and Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 7. INSERM U1018, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social relations are important for health, particularly at older ages. We examined the salience of frequency of social contacts and marital status for cognitive ageing trajectories over 21 years, from midlife to early old age. METHODS: Data are from the Whitehall II cohort study, including 4290 men and 1776 women aged 35-55 years at baseline (1985-88). Frequency of social contacts and marital status were measured in 1985-88 and 1989-90. Assessment of cognitive function on five occasions (1991-94, 1997-99, 2003-04, 2007-09 and 2012-13) included the following tests: short-term memory, inductive reasoning, verbal fluency (phonemic and semantic) and a combined global score. Cognitive trajectories over the study period were analysed using longitudinal latent growth class analyses, and the associations of these latent classes (trajectory memberships) with social relations were analysed using multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: More frequent social contacts [relative risk (RRR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 - 0.98] and being married (RRR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 - 0.84) were associated with lower probability of being on a low rather than high cognitive performance trajectory over the subsequent 21 years. These associations persisted after adjustment for covariates. Of the sub-tests, social relations variables had the strongest association with phonemic fluency (RRR 0.95, 95% CI 0.94 - 0.97 for frequent contact; RRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48 - 0.71 for being married). CONCLUSIONS: More frequent social contacts and having a spouse were associated with more favourable cognitive ageing trajectories. Further studies are needed to examine whether interventions designed to improve social connections affect cognitive ageing.
BACKGROUND: Social relations are important for health, particularly at older ages. We examined the salience of frequency of social contacts and marital status for cognitive ageing trajectories over 21 years, from midlife to early old age. METHODS: Data are from the Whitehall II cohort study, including 4290 men and 1776 women aged 35-55 years at baseline (1985-88). Frequency of social contacts and marital status were measured in 1985-88 and 1989-90. Assessment of cognitive function on five occasions (1991-94, 1997-99, 2003-04, 2007-09 and 2012-13) included the following tests: short-term memory, inductive reasoning, verbal fluency (phonemic and semantic) and a combined global score. Cognitive trajectories over the study period were analysed using longitudinal latent growth class analyses, and the associations of these latent classes (trajectory memberships) with social relations were analysed using multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: More frequent social contacts [relative risk (RRR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 - 0.98] and being married (RRR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 - 0.84) were associated with lower probability of being on a low rather than high cognitive performance trajectory over the subsequent 21 years. These associations persisted after adjustment for covariates. Of the sub-tests, social relations variables had the strongest association with phonemic fluency (RRR 0.95, 95% CI 0.94 - 0.97 for frequent contact; RRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48 - 0.71 for being married). CONCLUSIONS: More frequent social contacts and having a spouse were associated with more favourable cognitive ageing trajectories. Further studies are needed to examine whether interventions designed to improve social connections affect cognitive ageing.
Authors: John T Cacioppo; Louise C Hawkley; L Elizabeth Crawford; John M Ernst; Mary H Burleson; Ray B Kowalewski; William B Malarkey; Eve Van Cauter; Gary G Berntson Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2002 May-Jun Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Richard H Tuligenga; Aline Dugravot; Adam G Tabák; Alexis Elbaz; Eric J Brunner; Mika Kivimäki; Archana Singh-Manoux Journal: Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol Date: 2013-12-19 Impact factor: 32.069