Ben Shaw, Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, University at Albany
T-C Yang, Associate Professor, Sociology, University at Albany
Background: Existing research shows that living alone in later life is associated with greater risk for the development of ADRD than physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity [53]. Nevertheless, many older adults who live alone are able to maintain high levels of functioning and will not develop ADRD. While some research has identified factors that moderate the mortality risk of living alone [54], more research is needed to understand the circumstances associated with solitary living in later life that are mostly likely to confer, or buffer, ADRD risk. Social isolation is widely regarded as a key explanatory factor [55], but other demographic, behavioral, social, and environmental factors may also play important roles, either independently or jointly with social isolation. In addition, the timing of living alone (e.g., age of onset; duration in living alone status) and the circumstances precipitating a transition to solitary living may also be important in determining risk for ADRD.
Aim 1: Determine which specific circumstances defining one’s living alone status (i.e., age of transition to living alone; duration in living alone status; event leading to living alone transition) are associated with ADRD incidence among older adults.
Aim 2: Determine the key demographic, behavioral, social, and environmental factors related to living alone during later life that are most strongly associated with ADRD incidence among older adults.
Aim 3: Determine what demographic, behavioral, social, and environmental factors buffer the risk of ADRD among older adults living alone.