Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Living alone has been associated with cognitive impairment; however, findings have been inconsistent. Social isolation among older adults who live alone may contribute to cognitive impairment. This study was carried out to examine the association of social isolation and living alone with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data from the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia Cohort Study, which comprises pooled data from five community-based geriatric cohorts, was used. Social isolation was defined as infrequent interactions with others. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their social isolation and living alone statuses. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with a score <24 indicating cognitive impairment. The association between social isolation combined with living alone and cognitive impairment was analyzed using logistic regression.
RESULTS: Of the 4362 participants included in the analysis (mean age 75.6 years, 44.3 % male), 11 % had cognitive impairment. Regardless of living alone, social isolation was associated with cognitive impairment (no social isolation x not living alone: reference, social isolation x not living alone; odds ratio (OR): 1.74, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.29-2.33, social isolation x living alone; OR: 2.10, 95 % CI: 1.46-3.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Social isolation is associated with cognitive impairment; however, living alone is not intrinsically associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. Healthcare providers must focus on social interactions to prevent cognitive impairment in older adults rather than simply focusing on living arrangements.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data from the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia Cohort Study, which comprises pooled data from five community-based geriatric cohorts, was used. Social isolation was defined as infrequent interactions with others. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their social isolation and living alone statuses. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with a score <24 indicating cognitive impairment. The association between social isolation combined with living alone and cognitive impairment was analyzed using logistic regression.
RESULTS: Of the 4362 participants included in the analysis (mean age 75.6 years, 44.3 % male), 11 % had cognitive impairment. Regardless of living alone, social isolation was associated with cognitive impairment (no social isolation x not living alone: reference, social isolation x not living alone; odds ratio (OR): 1.74, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.29-2.33, social isolation x living alone; OR: 2.10, 95 % CI: 1.46-3.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Social isolation is associated with cognitive impairment; however, living alone is not intrinsically associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. Healthcare providers must focus on social interactions to prevent cognitive impairment in older adults rather than simply focusing on living arrangements.
摘要：
背景：独居与认知障碍有关；然而，调查结果不一致。独居老年人的社会隔离可能会导致认知障碍。进行这项研究是为了检查社区居住的老年人的社会隔离和独居与认知障碍的关系。
方法：在这项横断面研究中，来自痴呆症队列研究中生活良好的综合研究倡议的数据，其中包括来自五个社区老年队列的汇总数据，被使用。社会孤立被定义为与他人不频繁的互动。参与者根据他们的社会隔离和独居状态分为四组。使用迷你精神状态检查评估认知功能，得分<24表示认知障碍。使用logistic回归分析社会隔离与独居和认知障碍之间的关系。
结果：在分析中纳入的4362名参与者中（平均年龄75.6岁，44.3%男性），11%有认知障碍。不管独自生活，社会隔离与认知障碍相关(没有社会隔离x不独居：参考，社会隔离x非独居；比值比（OR）：1.74，95％置信区间（CI）：1.29-2.33，社会隔离x独居；OR：2.10，95％CI：1.46-3.01）。
结论：社会隔离与认知障碍有关；然而，在老年人中,独居与认知障碍并无内在联系.医疗保健提供者必须专注于社交互动，以防止老年人的认知障碍，而不是简单地关注生活安排。
方法：在这项横断面研究中，来自痴呆症队列研究中生活良好的综合研究倡议的数据，其中包括来自五个社区老年队列的汇总数据，被使用。社会孤立被定义为与他人不频繁的互动。参与者根据他们的社会隔离和独居状态分为四组。使用迷你精神状态检查评估认知功能，得分<24表示认知障碍。使用logistic回归分析社会隔离与独居和认知障碍之间的关系。
结果：在分析中纳入的4362名参与者中（平均年龄75.6岁，44.3%男性），11%有认知障碍。不管独自生活，社会隔离与认知障碍相关(没有社会隔离x不独居：参考，社会隔离x非独居；比值比（OR）：1.74，95％置信区间（CI）：1.29-2.33，社会隔离x独居；OR：2.10，95％CI：1.46-3.01）。
结论：社会隔离与认知障碍有关；然而，在老年人中,独居与认知障碍并无内在联系.医疗保健提供者必须专注于社交互动，以防止老年人的认知障碍，而不是简单地关注生活安排。
