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Social Frailty and Cognitive Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review
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Farshid Mirzaeipour   , Fatemeh Bahramnezhad , Mahsa Hazaryan * , Erfan Joudaki Rad |
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Abstract: (39 Views) |
Introduction: Social frailty may be associated with cognitive health in older adults through reduced social participation, restricted social networks, loneliness, and limited access to supportive resources. Given the heterogeneity in definitions, measurement tools, and reported cognitive outcomes, synthesizing the existing evidence remains a challenging task. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding the association between social frailty and cognitive health among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline in 2026. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 2, 2026. Original studies published in English or Persian that included community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years, explicitly operationalized social frailty, and assessed at least one cognitive outcome were eligible. Two reviewers performed study screening, and findings were synthesized descriptively and narratively.
Results: Of 589 identified records, 21 studies were included. The studies were conducted in six countries, including eight cross-sectional studies and thirteen cohort or longitudinal studies; no intervention studies were identified. The five-item Makizako index and its modified versions were the most frequently used measures, although substantial variations existed in the definition of components and diagnostic thresholds. Most studies reported associations between social frailty and poorer global or domain-specific cognitive performance, cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, motoric cognitive risk syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia. However, the strength of these associations varied according to measurement tools, cognitive outcomes, follow-up duration, and adjustment for baseline cognition. Evidence regarding mediating factors, moderators, subgroup effects, and the potential role of cognitive activities remained limited and was primarily based on observational studies.
Conclusion: Current evidence indicates a relatively consistent association between social frailty and adverse cognitive outcomes among community-dwelling older adults. Incorporating social dimensions into comprehensive geriatric assessments and identifying individuals at risk may have clinical relevance. Standardization of social frailty definitions and assessment tools, along with further longitudinal and intervention studies, is required to clarify its role in prevention strategies and the preservation of cognitive health in older adults.
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| Keywords: Social Frailty, Cognition, Community-Dwelling, Aged, Scoping Review |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Eldely mental and psychological issues
Received: 2026/08/4 | Accepted: 2026/04/30 | Published: 2026/04/30
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