The Impact of Loneliness in Older Adults Presenting with Memory Impairment: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Background: Memory impairment may be the first sign of an amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or geriatric depression. Loneliness hurts consciousness and mood in the elderly population. This study aimed to investigate the impact of loneliness on possible MCI and depressive symptoms in older adults with memory impairment. Method: The data of this cross-sectional study was collected from a single center in Sakarya. Standardized Mini Mental Test (SMMT), geriatric depression, and loneliness scales were applied to 120 older adults who met the inclusion criteria. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Logistic regression analysis were used to determine possible risk factors of MCI and depression. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: MCI was observed in 41.7%, and geriatric depression in 56.7% of participant. The variables of income level, low education status, loneliness were identified as risk factors for depression (p=0.011, p=0.021, p=0.000 respectively). There was no correlation between the loneliness scores and possible MCI (p=0.173). In addition, age and gender variables are risk factors for mild cognitive impairment, and the risk decreases as age decreases (p=0.004, p=0.033 respectively ). Social loneliness scores were higher in women than men (p=0.015). Conclusion: Loneliness in multi-cultural aging population is perceived in different ways between genders. There is no clear evidence that loneliness has a potential impact on MCI. In geriatric depression, social and emotional loneliness; may be considered risk factors. Healthcare providers should consider incorporating depression screening and management into routine care for lonely older adults especially woman subgroup.

Keywords

• Loneliness
• Older Adults
• Gender
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Depressive Symptoms

Bellek Bozukluğuyla Başvuran Yaşlılarda Yalnızlığın Etkisi: Tek Merkez Deneyimi

Abstract

Amaç: Bellek bozukluğu, amnestik hafif bilişsel bozukluk (HBB) veya geriatrik depresyonun ilk belirtisi olabilir. Yalnızlık yaşlı nüfusta bilinci ve duygu durumu etkilemektedir. Bu çalışma, hafıza bozukluğu olan yaşlı erişkinlerde yalnızlığın olası HBB ve depresif belirtiler üzerindeki etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel tipte olan bu çalışmanın verileri Sakarya'da tek bir merkezden toplanmıştır. Dahil edilme kriterlerini karşılayan 120 yaşlı yetişkine Standardize Mini Mental Test (SMMT), geriatrik depresyon ve yalnızlık ölçekleri uygulanmıştır. İstatistiksel analiz için SPSS 22.0 ve HBB ve depresyonun olası risk faktörlerini belirlemek için lojistik regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır.P<0,05 istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %41,7'sinde HBB, %56,7'sinde ise geriatrik depresyon tesbit edilmiştir.Düşük gelir düzeyi, eğitim seviyesindeki düşüklük ve yalnızlık değişkenleri depresyon için risk faktörleri olarak belirlenmiştir (sırasıyla p=0,011, p=0,021, p=0,000). Yalnızlık puanları ile olası HBB arasında korelasyon görülmemiştir (p=0,173). Ek olarak yaş ve cinsiyet değişkenleri HBB için risk faktörü olup, yaş azaldıkça risk azalmıştır (sırasıyla p=0,004, p=0,033). Kadınların sosyal yalnızlık puanları erkeklere göre daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p=0,015). Sonuç: Çok kültürlü yaşlanan nüfusta yalnızlık, cinsiyetler arasında farklı şekillerde algılanmaktadır. Yalnızlığın HBB üzerinde potansiyel bir etkisi olduğuna dair net bir kanıt yoktur. Geriatrik depresyonda sosyal ve duygusal yalnızlık; risk faktörleri olarak değerlendirilebilir. Sağlık hizmeti sağlayıcıları, yalnız yaşayan yaşlı yetişkinlere, özellikle kadın alt grubuna yönelik rutin bakıma depresyon taraması ve yönetimini dahil etmeyi düşünmelidir.

Keywords

• Loneliness
• Elderly
• Gender
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Depressive Symptoms

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