Mediation analysis reveals social support enhances memory by countering social isolation in older adults, suggesting critical implications for gerontological care.
Key Points
Memory function in aging adults is significantly influenced by both social isolation and functional social support, showing an interconnected relationship.
The analysis included 12,834 community-dwelling adults aged 45 to 85 years, examining the mediation effect of social support on memory.
Data was drawn from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, utilizing baseline and three-year follow-up assessments for robust findings.
Enhancing functional social support may help mitigate the negative impacts of social isolation on memory, highlighting a need for targeted eldercare strategies.