The Association Between Social Isolation, Functional Social Support, and Memory: A Mediation Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Social connection is associated with memory function in aging adults. However, little understanding exists of the pathways by which two distinct aspects of social connection-social isolation and functional social support-are related to each other and to memory. Using baseline and three-year follow-up data from the Tracking Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 12,834), we explored whether functional social support mediated the relation between social isolation and memory in community-dwelling adults aged 45-85 years. We found the association between social isolation and memory operated through, not independently of, functional social support. We did not find effect modification by age group or sex. Health professionals can use gerontological care appointments to evaluate whether social relationships meet the functional social support needs of aging adults.