Loneliness mediates the relationships between perceived neighborhood characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nWe aimed to examine whether loneliness mediates these associations among middle-aged and older adults.\n\n\nMETHODS\nData from wave 10 (2010-2012) to wave 13 (2016-2017) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were analyzed. Perceived neighborhood characteristics were self-reported. Loneliness was measured by Revised University of California Los Angeles (R-UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Cognition was evaluated by the modified version of Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). Baron and Kenny s causal steps and multiple linear regression models based on Karlson/Holm/Breen (KHB) method were used to examine the mediating effect.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAt baseline, 15,142 participants had no cognitive impairment, and 11,413 individuals were finally included in our analysis after 6-year follow-up. Multiple linear regression models suggested that lower perceived neighborhood physical disorder (β=0.073, P=0.033) and greater perceived neighborhood safety (β=0.350, P=0.009) were associated with better cognition. KHB test identified the significant mediating effect of loneliness on the relationships between perceived neighborhood physical disorder (β=0.011, P=0.016) and perceived neighborhood safety (β=0.023, P=0.026) and cognition.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nPerceived neighborhood characteristics are associated with cognition among middle-aged and older American adults. Loneliness mediated associations between perceived neighborhood physical disorder and perceived neighborhood safety and cognition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.