Isolation, Not Loneliness or Cynical Hostility, Predicts Cognitive Decline in Older Americans. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffin, Sarah C.; Mezuk, Briana; Williams, Allison Baylor; Perrin, Paul B.; Rybarczyk, Bruce D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 32:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: cynical hostility -- loneliness -- isolation -- cognitive decline/function -- aging; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264318800587
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: To jointly examine isolation, loneliness, and cynical hostility as risk factors for cognitive decline in older adults.Method: Data came from the 2006 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal study of U.S. older adults (age ⩾ 65 years, n = 6, 654). Measures included frequency of contact with social network (objective isolation), the Hughes Loneliness Scale (loneliness), a modified version of the Cook–Medley Hostility Inventory (cynical hostility), and a modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (cognitive function). Multilevel modeling (random slope + intercept) was used to examine the association between these factors and trajectories of cognitive function.Results and Discussion: After controlling for demographic characteristics, self-reported health, and functional limitations, loneliness (β = −.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−0.56, −0.11), and cynical hostility (β = −.14, 95% CI = [−0.24, −0.04) correlated with lower cognitive function, but none predicted change in cognitive function. Objective social isolation was associated with lower cognitive function (β = −.27, 95% CI = [−0.41, −0.12]) and steeper decline in cognitive function (β = −.09, 95% CI = [−0.16, −0.01]).