Social network index and its association with cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in healthy older adults: Age-stratified analysis

Key Points

• Cognitive impairment is significantly associated with a low social network index among healthy older adults, highlighting its importance.
• In participants aged 65 and above, the research shows a notable decrease in cognitive function corresponding to lower social network scores.
• This analysis utilizes age-stratified methodologies across various age groups to assess cognitive and depressive outcomes related to social engagement.
• The findings emphasize the necessity of promoting social engagement to potentially mitigate cognitive decline, especially in older age.