IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORK TYPE ON DEMENTIA RISK IN THE CONTEXT OF COGNITIVE RESERVE

摘要

Social isolation and lack of social support come with a high risk for mortality, cardiovascular disease, and apparently also for dementia. The aim of the study was to investigate to what extent social network type increases the risk to develop dementia. As education - in sense of a cognitive reserve - is an important protector against dementia, we also explored whether the impact of social network type on dementia risk could be overcome by higher education. Data analyses are based on the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged (LEILA75+, n=1,265), a representative population-based cohort study examining individuals aged 75+ years. Social networks were assessed using the practitioner assessment of network type instrument (PANT). Time-series regression modeling adjusted for age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors and history of depression revealed individuals with restricted network types had a significantly greater risk to develop dementia than individuals with socially integrated network types. The probability to develop dementia over the follow-up period was almost twice as high for individuals with low education than for individuals with high education. Our findings imply that social integration is an important protective factors against dementia in the elderly population. Particularly, individuals with low education, and hence a low cognitive reserve, may benefit from community interventions that foster social integration of older population groups.