How Social Networks Change Before Death in Dementia Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Baker Zachary, Alberth Andrew, Guest M Aaron, Peckham Allie, Segundo Joahana, Saenz Joseph
Primary Institution: Arizona State University
Hypothesis
How do social networks among individuals with dementia change as they approach death?
Conclusion
Social networks shrink as death approaches, with a notable increase in close extended family for Hispanic/Latino individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- Larger social networks are associated with a lower risk of dementia.
- Social networks shrank linearly as death approached.
- A decrease in close friends primarily drove the shrinkage.
- Hispanic/Latino persons with dementia showed an increase in close extended family as they approached death.
Takeaway
As people with dementia get closer to death, they tend to have fewer close friends, but Hispanic/Latino individuals often see more family members around them.
Methodology
Multilevel models estimated associations between dementia, race/ethnicity, time, and close family and friend network size while controlling for several sociodemographic variables.
Participant Demographics
Deceased individuals with dementia from the Health and Retirement Study, including various races and ethnicities.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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