Increased Social Support Reduces the Incidence of Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome characterized by slow gait and cognitive complaint. The relationship between MCR and social support—a potentially modifiable risk factor of dementia—is currently unknown. The current study aimed to determine whether MCR incidence varies as a function of social support in aging. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined MCR incidence in 506 community-dwelling older adults (M Age 76.59; 57.3% female) without MCR or dementia at baseline. We quantified perceived levels of social support with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, incorporating four different categories of support: (a) emotional/informational support, (b) tangible support, (c) affectionate support, and (d) positive social interactions. We used Cox regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, comorbidities, and global cognition, to estimate hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Over a median follow-up time of 2.5 years (range = 1–7 years), 38 participants (9.8%) developed MCR. Increased tangible support decreased the risk of MCR by 30% (aHR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53–0.92, p = .011). Increased overall social support decreased the risk of MCR by 33% (aHR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46–0.98, p = .038). Other subcategories of social support were not associated with a decreased risk of MCR (p > .05). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Higher levels of tangible social support, as well as overall social support, were associated with reduced risk for MCR in older adults. Increasing social support may be a promising avenue of intervention for reducing the risk of MCR, dementia, and other forms of cognitive decline.