Social Isolation: The Risks It Has For Those With Dementia On Their Longevity
With dementia being characterised by changes to the brain, including cognitive ability, behaviour and memory, it’s common that people who have dementia experience changes to their daily lives, including their social interactions. The Alzheimer’s Society UK (2023) have suggested that changes to the brain tend to cause difficulty in a variety of tasks and activities, which may lead to avoidance of these tasks. In social situations, people with dementia may struggle to keep up with conversation, express their thoughts and at times can become overstimulated in certain settings. The Alzheimer’s Society UK also found that social isolation can increase the dementia risk, whereas social contact can build positive cognitive reserves in the brain and strive for longevity.
Social isolation and loneliness in older adults have also been found to have a strong correlation with the risk of developing dementia, as well as leading to a heightened risk of dementia development. This is due to limited social interaction, which has the potential to lead to a decline in cognitive function.
Who does it impact?
In 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research found that one in three people with dementia experience loneliness. They also found there to be links between loneliness, poor well-being, heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline and early death. A review by Manca et al. in 2022 reported that multiple studies looking into social isolation and dementia detected both worsening of existing dementia symptoms as well as emergence of newer neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia after experiencing various measures of social isolation. This review also found that significant negative effects were reported on the burden and mental wellness of carers of those with dementia as a result of changes to their social health. Manca et al. (2022) found that restriction to social settings creates an ideal environment to accelerate the decline in people with dementia, where social isolation limits their opportunity to practice their cognitive skills.
How can exercise help?
Engaging in physical activity has been shown to offer a variety of benefits for individuals experiencing dementia symptoms. The Alzheimer’s Society UK have reported physical, mental and psychosocial benefits that can assist with improving the overall quality of life for both those experiencing dementia, as well as their carers. Some benefits of exercise include:
- Improved heart health and blood vessel function
- Maintenance of coordination and balance, therefore decreasing falls risk
- Improved blood supply to the brain
- Reduced risk of further health conditions or events, including stroke, cancer, and diabetes
- Improved physical fitness and overall function
- Improved bone health and muscle mass
- Management of energy levels and sleep quality
- Improved hand-eye coordination
- Improved confidence
- Increased social interaction
- Improved and regulated mood
- Improved overall mental ability, including greater focus and attention
A study by Teri et al. in 2008 also found that exercise can also assist with the management of secondary side effects that are commonly experienced by those with dementia. This includes the risk of falls and fractures, loss of muscular endurance, and cardiopulmonary function, as well as function for everyday activities and mood. As a result of both primary and secondary side effects, including social isolation, quality of life is negatively impacted (Shvedko, 2018). Physical activity interventions, including those that are group-based or instructed one-on-one with an exercise professional, were found to have positive effects on social functioning, overall health and quality of life.
What can be done?
There are currently no specific exercise guidelines for those experiencing dementia. However, the recommended exercise guidelines for older adults in the UK are 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise broken up across the week. It is also recommended that two strength and balance sessions be included in this. Incorporating functional, cognitive and social tasks into exercise is a great way to make it more meaningful, motivating and effective. Exercise needs to be individualised based on function, exercise history, weaknesses and personal goals. It is beneficial to incorporate a range of modes of exercise into the week where possible. Here are some examples and ways people with dementia can add different kinds of exercise into their week:
- Incidental exercise
- Housework
- Decreasing sitting time – try not to sit in a chair for longer than 60mins at a time
- Walking up and down the stairs
- Gardening
- Aerobic exercise
- Walking
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Dancing
- Resistance exercise
- Sit to stands
- Wall press-ups
- Seated row
- Balance exercise
- Heel-to-toe stance
- Heel-to-toe walking
- Add in a dual task to make it harder – e.g. name cities starting with B
- Tai Chi
- Coordination exercise
- Step ups
- Ladder walking
- Cone walking and drills
Tips to stay consistent
Building something new into a weekly routine isn’t always easy. It’s important to aim for consistency, even if it’s something small. Here are some tips to build exercise into the week:
- Build a daily or weekly routine and have something to look forward to
- Make exercise and activities something to enjoy – we don’t want it to feel like a chore
- Find activities that aren’t overstimulating
- Exercise with someone or join a class!
- Start small – master one thing and then add to it
At Longevity Health and Fitness, we support individuals and families with tailored exercise programs designed to meet each person where they’re at, taking into account cognitive ability, mobility, and personal goals. Our focus is always on enhancing the quality of life through safe, supportive, and personalised movement. To learn more about how we support individuals with dementia, get in touch with our team to find out how we can help.
