Intervention studies examining the impact of social relationships on cognitive function | |||||
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Study | Participants | Intervention | Socialisation defined | Cognitive outcome measures | Results summary |
Mortimer (2012) [35] China | N = 120 30/group Age:60–79 | 1. Tai Chi 2. Walking 3. Social activity 4. No intervention 3 times/week, 40 weeks RCT | Social activity: Meeting and conversational discussion facilitated by leader and assistant 3 times a week for 40 weeks. | Memory (composite AVLT, CVLT) Attention (Bell Cancellation Test, Stroop, TMT A) Verbal Fluency (Category) a Executive function (Rey CFT) Processing speed (WAIS Digit Span, WAIS Similarities) Cognitive function (Boston Naming Test, Clock-Drawing Test, MDRS) | Baseline to 40-week follow-up; improved verbal fluency (p = 0.01), trends for improvement (p < 0.10) on TMT A and AVLT. Increased brain volume in the social interaction group versus no intervention, (p < 0.05). P-values not provided for other comparisons. |
Park (2014) [34] USA | N = 221 1. n = 29 2. n = 35 3. n = 42 4. n = 36 5. n = 39 6. n = 40 Age: 60–90 | Cognitive Engagement 1. Photo group 2. Quilt group 3. Dual photo + quilt control group 4. Social activity 5. Placebo 6. No intervention 15.9 h/week, 14 week programme, Non-RCT | Social activity: Participants engaged in on-site, facilitator-led social interactions, field trips, and entertainment with a social group. | Episodic memory (Cantab, HVLT) Visuospatial processing (Cantab, Raven’s Progressive Matrices) Processing speed (Digit Span) Attention/inhibitory control (Flanker Task) Cognitive function (MMSE) | Social group showed greater, but non-significant pre-post-test improvements versus photo, quilt and placebo (p = 0.10) on processing speed; photo and placebo on attention/inhibitory control; placebo on episodic memory; and quilt, dual and placebo on visuospatial processing. |
Pitkala (2011) [57] Finland | N = 235 1. n = 117 2. n = 118 Age: 75+ | 1. Social activity plus therapeutic writing/group exercise/art experience 2. Normal community care 6 h/week, 3 months 12 month FU, RCT | Social activity: Choice of 1/3 activities plus active discussions, shared experiences, discussed feelings, peer support. Facilitated by trained professionals. | Cognitive function (ADAS-Cog) b Subjective Cognitive Function (15D) b | ADAS-Cog scores improved significantly more in the social group than in the control group (p = 0.023); as did changes in 15D (p = 0.047). |