Recognition of social health: A conceptual framework in the context of dementia research

Myrra Vernooij-Dassen*, Eline Verspoor, Suraj Samtani, Perminder S Sachdev, M Arfan Ikram, Meike W Vernooij, Claudia Hubers, Rabih Chattat, Marta Lenart-Bugla, Joanna Rymaszewska, Dorota Szczesniak, Henry Brodaty, Anna-Karin Welmer, Jane Maddock, Isabelle F van der Velpen, Henrik Wiegelmann, Anna Marseglia, Marcus Richards, Rene Melis, Marjolein de VugtEsme Moniz-Cook, Yun-Hee Jeon, Marieke Perry, Karin Wolf-Ostermann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The recognition of dementia as a multifactorial disorder encourages the exploration of new pathways to understand its origins. Social health might play a role in cognitive decline and dementia, but conceptual clarity is lacking and this hinders investigation of associations and mechanisms. The objective is to develop a conceptual framework for social health to advance conceptual clarity in future studies.

PROCESS: We use the following steps: underpinning for concept advancement, concept advancement by the development of a conceptual model, and exploration of its potential feasibility. An iterative consensus-based process was used within the international multidisciplinary SHARED project.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Underpinning of the concept drew from a synthesis of theoretical, conceptual and epidemiological work, and resulted in a definition of social health as wellbeing that relies on capacities both of the individual and the social environment. Consequently, domains in the conceptual framework are on both the individual (e.g., social participation) and the social environmental levels (e.g., social network). We hypothesize that social health acts as a driver for use of cognitive reserve which can then slow cognitive impairment or maintain cognitive functioning. The feasibility of the conceptual framework is demonstrated in its practical use in identifying and structuring of social health markers within the SHARED project.

DISCUSSION: The conceptual framework provides guidance for future research and facilitates identification of modifiable risk and protective factors, which may in turn shape new avenues for preventive interventions. We highlight the paradigm of social health in dementia as a priority for dementia research.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1052009
Number of pages9
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 2022

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