MAPPING THE INTERPLAY OF SOCIAL HEALTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING: A MIXED RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE SYNTHESIS

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a syndrome with complex underlying bio-psycho-social mechanisms relevant for prevention and intervention. This work presents a mixed research knowledge synthesis, mapping the multidimensional interplay of social health and cognitive functioning in dementia. METHODS: Data integration from 1) systematic review, 2) group model building workshops, (3) iterative integration of multi-national cohort studies (4) ongoing revisions of the social health concept via expert discussions. RESULTS: The map comprises more than 50 markers, clustered in six domains (social health, psychological pathways, physiological pathways, health behavior pathways, brain/cognitive reserve, cognitive functioning). The social health domain is structured in six sub-domains representing a novel conceptual understanding. Three pathways (physiological, psychological, health behavior) reflect principal mechanisms connecting social health with brain/cognitive reserve and cognitive functioning. CONCLUSION: The map depicts dynamic relationships between social health and cognitive functioning that can serve as a basis for recommendations, both for prevention and for improved dementia care.