Social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic: Impact on cognition in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Prior research has investigated disorders associated with aging, such as in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRDs), as well as various factors that can positively or negatively influence their course. Scant research has been conducted on how the Coronavirus pandemic could have impacted patients with pre-existing cognitive problems, such as memory impairment, which is often a symptom of ADRDs. This research examines the impact of social isolation during the pandemic, among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to ADRDs, and how this may have further impaired cognitive functioning. A COVID-19 impact survey developed by a Stanford team (Adamson et al., 2020) was administered remotely as part of a larger clinical trial (iPACES v3) to approximately 100 older adult pairs, half with MCI and half normative caregivers. The survey consisted of 38-items, which assessed factors like how often one communicated with their loved ones, while the Perceived Stress Scale assessed stress levels in response to personal problems and the inability to be in control. Participants were enrolled in the study starting about 18 months into the pandemic and continuously until present. It was hypothesized that retrospective report of social isolation, as a result of the pandemic, would be associated with lower cognitive functioning. Further research is planned to better understand the role the pandemic has played in the course of ADRDs. The research aims to provide some insight as to the role social isolation might play in the cognitive status of older adults with MCI.