2020-07-20_franchise_Article round up for July PAC meeting.docx

Articles Round-Up for PAC Meeting: COVID, Social Isolation and Cognitive Decline

As pre-work for our upcoming meeting, I have compiled a list of five articles that talk about the various factors (social isolation, loneliness, COVID-19) that are currently impacting cognitive decline in older adults in this environment. It is not necessary that you read these before the meeting, but I wanted to share them as educational resources. The bulleted lists below highlight the key takeaways from each article, so if you don’t have time to read any of the articles, that will also suffice.

COVID-19-Related Loneliness and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Older Adults: The Buffering Role of Subjective Age

Published June 9, 2020

A new study has linked COVID-19-based loneliness in older adults with elevated psychiatric symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms that immediately follow exposure to trauma.

The researchers found that the effect of loneliness on psychiatric symptoms was most pronounced among participants who felt subjectively older than their chronological age. On the other hand, participants who felt subjectively younger than their chronological age exhibited no psychiatric symptoms related to loneliness.

"The way older adults perceive old age and their own aging may be more important to their coping and well being than their chronological age,"

These findings were recently published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Coronavirus and Alzheimer’s Disease

Published March 24, 2020

Cognitive Impairment Increases the risk of COVID-19: Cognitive impairment gets in the way of self-protection because a vulnerable person may not understand the risk of disease or remember to be as careful as necessary. This makes a person with dementia an easier target for coronavirus infection.

Anticipating and Mitigating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Published April 18, 2020

Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias are at High Risk for COVID-19 and its Associated Morbidity and Mortality

The pandemic and its consequences may also be experienced as a trauma, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder. In turn, stress and trauma can accelerate cognitive decline.

Loneliness and Isolation in Long-term Care and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although prohibiting group activities will decrease the risk of spreading the COVID-19 infection in nursing homes, it significantly increases the isolation and resulting loneliness of residents.

Studies found that loneliness is a risk factor for cognitive decline and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, recurrent stroke, obesity, elevated blood pressure, and mortality.

Interventions that were found to successfully decrease loneliness are laughter therapy, horticultural therapy, and reminiscence therapy.

COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly

It is well known that social isolation among older adults is a “serious public health concern” because of their heightened risk of cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurocognitive, and mental health problems.