Observational cohort study investigating cognitive outcomes, social networks and well-being in older adults: a study protocol
Open Access
- 16 June 2019
- Vol. 9 (6), e029495
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029495
Abstract
Introduction Social networks play a role in slowing the development of dementia. However, there is a need for further investigation of the effects of improving social networks on health-related quality of life and cognitive performance. Targeted community aged care services are a central strategy for supporting older adults to initiate and maintain their social engagement with other individuals at all stages of later life. This protocol describes a prospective observational cohort study aimed at (1) characterising interpersonal relationships in older adults receiving community care services, (2) assessing the relationship social networks and health-related quality of life and cognition and (3) identifying the association between community care use, social networks and cognition. The findings will contribute to our understanding of how specific social network structures and social support services can maintain cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods and analysis This is a prospective, observational cohort study of 201 older Australians residing in the community and receiving care services from one of three aged care organisations. Clients with a history of neurological injury will be excluded. Participants will undergo baseline measures of social networks, health-related quality of life and cognitive function, and a follow-up at 6 months. Service use and sociodemographic variables will also be collected. The primary outcome is cognitive function, and secondary outcomes include social networks and health-related quality of life. Multivariable linear regression will test the hypothesis that increased social networks are associated with an increase in cognitive function. Ethics and dissemination Approval of the study by Macquarie University Research Ethics Committee (reference number 5201831394062) has been obtained. This work will be disseminated by publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations in abstract form at scientific meetings and results will be made available to home and community-based care older adults and care staff of the involved organisations. Trial registration number ACTRN12618001723279; Pre-results.Keywords
Funding Information
- Dementia Australia Research Foundation
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Validation of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified in Subjects with Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, or DementiaNeuroepidemiology, 2009
- Relaxing the Rule of Ten Events per Variable in Logistic and Cox RegressionAmerican Journal of Epidemiology, 2006
- Validation of the modified telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS‐m) in HebrewInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2003
- Utility of TICS‐M for the assessment of cognitive function in older adultsInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2003
- A Preliminary Psychometric Analysis of a Computer-Assisted Administration of the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-ModifiedJournal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 2002
- On the problem of detecting effects of lifestyle on cognitive change in adulthood: Reply to Pushkar et al. (1999).Psychology and Aging, 1999
- Alzheimer's disease in the NAS–NRC Registry of ageing twin veterans, IV. Performance characteristics of a two-stage telephone screening procedure for Alzheimer's dementiaPsychological Medicine, 1995
- The role of psychosocial context, age, and intelligence in memory performance of older men.Psychology and Aging, 1992
- EuroQol - a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of lifeHealth Policy, 1990
- “Mini-mental state”: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinicianJournal of Psychiatric Research, 1975