Open AccessCognitive Impairment and the Trajectory of Loneliness in Older Adulthood: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Author(s) -
Ji Hyun Lee,
Martina Luchetti,
Damaris Aschwanden,
Amanda A. Sesker,
Jason E. Strickhouser,
Antonio Terracciano,
Angelina R. Sutin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of aging and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1552-6887
pISSN - 0898-2643
DOI - 10.1177/08982643211019500
Subject(s) - loneliness , dementia , psychology , cognition , ucla loneliness scale , health and retirement study , social isolation , gerontology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medicine , disease , pathology
Objective: To examine whether the trajectory of facets of loneliness-emotional and social-varied by cognitive impairment status in older adulthood. Methods: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study 2008-2018 waves ( N = 15,352). Cognitive impairment was assessed using standard cutoffs for cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia. The 11-item UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure emotional and social loneliness. Results: Using multilevel modeling, we found that CIND and dementia status were associated with higher overall, emotional, and social loneliness, controlling for physical health, social contact, and depressive symptoms. The trajectory of loneliness did not vary by cognitive status. There were modest variations by sociodemographic factors. Discussion: Persons with CIND and dementia experience heightened emotional and social loneliness, but cognitive impairment does not contribute to the worsening of loneliness. Older adults' social integration may be maintained early in cognitive impairment.