On 18 January, an IDEAL programme team published an article on predictors and correlates of loneliness and social isolation in people with dementia in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry journal.
Using data from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study (2014–2018), the authors analysed 1,547 people with mild-to-moderate dementia over 24 months, measuring loneliness at baseline and 24 months and social isolation at baseline, 12 and 24 months, then modelling potential predictors including individual characteristics, depression, cognition, cultural participation and neighbourhood characteristics.
At baseline, 35.4% of participants were categorised as lonely and 28.8% as socially isolated, rising to 39.3% and 32.0% two years later. Across the 24-month follow-up, none of the tested predictors were associated with change in social isolation scores, while perceived neighbourhood trust was the only factor associated with change in loneliness over time; at baseline, higher depressive symptoms, living alone, smaller social networks and lower neighbourhood trust were associated with greater loneliness.
Cross-sectionally, loneliness and lower cognitive ability were associated with greater social isolation, while greater cultural participation, more green and blue spaces nearby and higher neighbourhood trust were associated with lower social isolation scores, supporting a focus on local environment and participation when considering support for people with dementia.
The article has been published open access and can be read here: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70191
