%0 Journal Article %J Aging & Mental Health %D 2023 %T Source of perceived social support and cognitive change: an 8-year prospective cohort study. %A Du, Chenguang %A Dong, XinQi %A Katz, Benjamin %A Li, Mengting %K cognitive function %K hierarchical linear modeling %K perceived social support %X

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the longitudinal association between overall and individual sources of social support and global cognitive function in older adults.Data were drawn from three waves (2006, 2010 and 2014) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The analytic sample included participants aged 65 and above who were married and had at least one child ( = 1319). Global cognitive function was measured through a 35-point Telephone Interview Cognitive Screen (TICS). Perceived social support was measured via questions across four sources of support (spouse, child, other family members, and friends). Analyses were conducted using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) with the addition of a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM).

RESULTS: There was no significant association between perceived overall social support and global cognitive function over time (). However, changes in perceived support from children were positively associated with changes in global cognition ( In contrast, changes in perceived support from other family members were negatively associated with changes in cognitive function (.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of examining perceived social support from specific elements of one's social networks, rather than in an aggregated variable. Although the positive effect of perceived support from children may be small to moderate, the findings could provide a target for interventions to protect the cognitive function of older adults.

%B Aging & Mental Health %V 27 %P 1496-1505 %G eng %N 8 %R 10.1080/13607863.2022.2126433 %0 Journal Article %J Front Neurosci %D 2022 %T Sensory impairment and cognitive decline among older adults: An analysis of mediation and moderation effects of loneliness. %A Ge, Shaoqing %A Pan, Wei %A Wu, Bei %A Plassman, Brenda L %A Dong, XinQi %A McConnell, Eleanor S %K Cognitive decline %K Loneliness %K Older Adults %X

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have reported that hearing and vision impairment are linked to cognitive decline. Yet little is known about factors that may influence the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline. This study examined if loneliness mediates or moderates the impact of sensory impairment on cognitive decline as individuals age.

METHODS: This was a longitudinal study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) ( = 243). We used one timepoint of hearing and vision (ADAMS 2006-2008), one timepoint of loneliness (HRS 2006-2008), and five waves of cognition (HRS 2006-2014). Hearing impairment was defined by an inability to hear pure-tone stimuli of 25 dB at frequencies between 0.5 and 4.0 kHz in either ear. Visual impairment was defined as having corrected binocular vision worse than 20/40. Longitudinal parallel-process (LPP) analysis was conducted at a significance level of α = 0.05 (one-tailed).

RESULTS: Loneliness moderated but did not mediate the association between visual impairment and the rate of cognitive decline (standardized β =-0.108, < 0.05). No moderation or mediation effect of loneliness was found for the association between hearing impairment and cognitive decline. Both vision and hearing impairment were significantly associated with increased severity of loneliness.

CONCLUSION: Visual impairment combined with an elevated level of loneliness may produce a more synergistic, deleterious impact on older adults' cognitive function than visual impairment alone. This study highlights the importance of promoting a healthy social and psychological status for older adults with sensory impairment.

%B Front Neurosci %V 16 %P 1092297 %8 2022 %G eng %R 10.3389/fnins.2022.1092297 %0 Journal Article %J Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences %D 2017 %T Social support, social strain, and cognitive function among community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults. %A Ge, Shaoqing %A Bei Wu %A Donald E. Bailey Jr. %A Dong, XinQi %K Adult children %K Cognitive Ability %K Community-dwelling %X

Background: Limited research is available on the relationship between social support, social strain, and cognitive function among community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults. This study aims to examine the associations between social support/strain and cognitive outcomes.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Population-Based Study of Chinese Elderly (N = 3,159). Cognitive function was measured by a battery of tests including the East Boston Memory Test, the Digit Span Backwards assessment, and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Social support and strain were measured by the scales drawn from the Health and Retirement study. Multiple regression analyses were conducted.

Results: Social support was significantly associated with global cognitive function (β = .11, SE = .02, p < .001), episodic memory (β = .11, SE = .03, p < .001), working memory (β = .18, SE = .08, p < .05), and executive function (β = 1.44, SE = .37, p < .001). Social strain was significantly associated with global cognitive function (β = .23, SE = .05, p < .001), episodic memory (β = .27, SE = .07, p < .001), working memory (β = .34, SE = .17, p < .05), and executive function (β = 2.75, SE = .85, p < .01). In terms of sources of social support/strain, higher support from friends was significantly associated with higher global cognitive function (β = .04, SE = .02, p < .05), higher episodic memory (β = .05, SE = .02, p < .05), and higher executive function (β = .71, SE = .29, p < .05). Higher strain from spouse was significantly associated with higher global cognitive function (β = .10, SE = .03, p < .01), higher episodic memory (β = .11, SE = .04, p < .01), and higher executive function (β = 1.28, SE = .49, p < .01). Higher strain from friends was significantly associated with higher executive function (β = 3.59, SE = 1.17, p < .01).

Conclusions: Social support and strain were associated with cognitive outcomes. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted.

%B Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences %V 72 %P S16-S21 %8 2017 Jul 01 %G eng %N suppl_1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28575260?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/gerona/glw221