ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL ISOLATION AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN OLDER PEOPLES LIVING IN METROPOLITAN AREA. (16th November 2018) - Inagaki, H
Abstract: Objectives: Previous studies reported that relation between dementia and interaction with others and society. In this study, we used data from the Takashimadaira study, a longitudinal cohort study for older people aimed to realize dementia friendly communities in a metropolitan area, and we examined whether the cognitive decline related to frequency of interaction with others in older peoples. Methods: The participants were 2, 020 community-dwelling persons aged 70 years old and more. Their cognitive function was evaluated using MMSE-J, and the cognitive decline was defined as 23 point and less of MMSE-J. For frequency of both direct (face to face) and indirect (letter/phone) interaction with "friends and neighbor" and "family members living separately", it estimated by five-point likert scale, "1) once and over a week" to "5) once or less a month". In addition, we asked about social supports, years of residence, frequency of go-out, function of walking, and persons who living together. Results: The binomial logistic regression analysis showed that the cognitive decline related to the less frequency of direct interaction with friend (exp(β)=1.50, 95%CI=1.11–2.01), indirect interaction with friends (exp(β)=1.94, 95%CI=1.44–2.60), and indirect 3interaction with family members (exp(β)=1.58, 95%CI=1.16–2.15). Direct interaction with family members was not significantly related to the cognitive declines. Conclusion: Results showed that the cognitive decline associated with the less frequency of interaction with others, i.e. social isolation. It is thought a possibility that cognitive decline causes the social isolation. It needs follow-up survey to examine this causality.