Social isolation changes and long-term outcomes among older adults

Social isolation changes and long-term outcomes among older adults
JAMA Network Open; by Chen Lyu, Katherine Siu, Ian Xu, Iman Osman, Judy Zhong; 7/24
Is social isolation change associated with long-term outcomes in older adults? In this cohort study using a national longitudinal health survey of 13 649 adults aged 50 years or older in the US, data revealed that increased isolation was associated with an increased risk of mortality, disability, and dementia. Decreased isolation was associated with a lower risk of mortality only among individuals who were non-isolated at baseline. These results underscore the importance of interventions targeting the prevention of increased isolation among older adults to mitigate its adverse effects on mortality, as well as physical and cognitive function decline.