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Social networks and loneliness in people with Alzheimer's dementia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 16:50 authored by Sara Balouch, Enas Rifaat, Henglien ChenHenglien Chen, Naji TabetNaji TabetObjectives Modifiable lifestyle risk factors are of great interest in the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Loneliness and social networks may influence onset of AD, but little is known about this relationship in people with AD. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between loneliness and social networks (social measures) and cognitive and psychopathology decline (AD outcomes) in people with AD. Methods Ninety-three participants with mild-moderate AD were recruited from memory clinics, in a cross-sectional study. Social networks (measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale), feelings of loneliness (measured by De Jong Loneliness Scale), cognition (measured by the Standardized Mini Mental State Examination) and psychopathology (measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory) were assessed in an interview setting. Two multiple regressions with Bootstrap were conducted on cognition and psychopathology as outcome variables. Family and Friends subsets of social networks and loneliness were entered as predictors and age, gender and depression as covariates. Results The friendship subset of social networks was significantly related to cognition (independent of age, gender, depression, loneliness and family subset of social network): B = .284, p = .01. Neither loneliness nor social networks predicted psychopathology (ps > .05). Conclusions Maintaining or developing a close friendship network could be beneficial for cognition in people with AD. Alternatively, greater dementia severity may lead to fewer friends. More research on the direction of this relationship in people with AD is needed.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
International Journal of Geriatric PsychiatryISSN
0885-6230Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
5Volume
34Page range
666-673Department affiliated with
- BSMS Publications
Notes
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Balouch, Sara, Rifaat, Enas, Chen, Henglien Lisa and Tabet, Naji (2019) Social networks and loneliness in people with Alzheimer's dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34 (5). pp. 666-673. ISSN 0885-6230, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gps.5065. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-02-12First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-01-31First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-02-12Usage metrics
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