Association of loneliness, social isolation, and daily cognitive function in Mexican older adults living in community during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Introduction Loneliness and social isolation are known risk factors for cognitive decline; their effect in older adults (OA) after COVID-19 lockdown is emerging. Objective To establish an association between loneliness and social isolation, with daily cognitive function in Mexican OA during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method Cross-sectional study, derived from the cohort “The impact of COVID 19 on well-being, cognition, and discrimination among older adults in the United States and Latin America”, which included 308 OA recruited between March-August 2020 whose daily cognitive function were determined with the Everyday Cognition Scale (E-Cog) as dichotomized score (cut point: 1.31 for normal cognition). Loneliness and social isolation were binomial variables. Results The mean age was 65.4 ± 7.9 years, 75.7% were women. The mean continuous E-Cog score was 57.4 (SD = ± 19.1), 49.1% had a score < 1.31 (normal cognition), while 50.9% had a higher score (cognitive impairment). Eighty four percent of participants reported loneliness, 79.9% reported social isolation. Multivariate regression model showed a negative and statistically significant association between social isolation and loneliness and E-Cog, adjusted by age, sex and education level (β = -.046, 95% CI = [-.8, -.013], p = .007; β = -.16, 95% CI = [-.08, -.018], p = .003), and a positive association with subjective memory complaint (β = .81, 95% CI = [-.16, -.11], p = < .001). Discussion and conclusion These data suggest the need for increased vigilance of those who have loneliness and social isolation due to its potential deleterious effect on cognitive function.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Durón-Reyes,Dafne Estefania, Mimenza-Alvarado,Alberto José, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez,Lidia, Suing-Ortega,María José, Quiroz,Yakeel T., Aguilar-Navarro,Sara Gloria
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz 2023
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-33252023000100019
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