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. 2022 May;18(5):934-941.
doi: 10.1002/alz.12443. Epub 2021 Sep 5.

Why the cognitive "fountain of youth" may be upstream: Pathways to dementia risk and resilience through social connectedness

Brea L Perry  1 , Will R McConnell  2 , Max E Coleman  1 , Adam R Roth  1 , Siyun Peng  1 , Liana G Apostolova  3
Affiliations

Why the cognitive "fountain of youth" may be upstream: Pathways to dementia risk and resilience through social connectedness

Brea L Perry et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 May.

Abstract

Research suggests social connectedness may help older adults with dementia maintain cognitive functionality and quality of life. However, little is known about its specific social and biological mechanisms. This paper proposes two pathways through social bridging (i.e., cognitive enrichment through expansive social networks) and bonding (i.e., neuroendocrine benefits of integration in cohesive social networks). We provide preliminary evidence for these pathways using neuroimaging, cognitive, and egocentric social network data from the Social Networks and Alzheimer's Disease (SNAD) study (N = 280). We found that network size, density, and presence of weak ties (i.e., social bridging) moderated the association between brain atrophy and cognitive function, while marriage/cohabitation (i.e., social bonding) moderated the association between perceived stress and cognitive function. We argue that social connectedness may have downstream implications for multiple pathophysiological processes in cognitive aging, even negating existing structural damage to the brain, making it a strong candidate for clinical or policy intervention.

Keywords: cognitive aging; connectedness; health disparities; social determinants; social engagement; social networks; social support.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Social bridging and bonding pathways linking personal social networks and ADRD risk and resilience
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Typical network structure and composition by diagnostic group (SNAD; N=280)
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Association between amygdalar atrophy and predicted cognitive function at low and high network degree, density, and minimum tie strength (SNAD; n=135)
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Association between a stress index and predicted cognitive function by marital/cohabitating status (SNAD; n=271)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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