Olfaction in (Social) Context: The Role of Social Complexity in Trajectories of Older Adults’ Olfactory Abilities
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives: Olfaction is an important correlate of later-life health, including cognition and mortality risk. Environmental enrichment protects against olfactory decline, yet little research considers the social context as a source of sensory enrichment or stimulation. This study examines how exposure to social complexity (i.e., diversity or novelty in social networks and activities) shapes later-life olfaction. Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal ordered logit models analyze data from 1,447 older adults interviewed at Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Results: Exposure to greater social complexity (larger social networks, greater network diversity) is associated with significantly better olfaction at baseline. Increases in network diversity and fewer network losses significantly protect against olfactory decline over time. Discussion: Findings highlight the social context as an important, yet relatively overlooked source of sensory enrichment, and underscore the need for biological applications to integrate social life dynamics into studies of health trajectories.
Source: Journal of Aging and Health
Author: Alyssa W. Goldman
Institution: Boston College
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: NSHAP Wave II Partner Data Collection, National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: Anaylsis of Wave 1 and Wave 2, National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: Rounds 4.2 and 4.4, Center for Healthy Aging Behaviors & Longitudinal Investigations, National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: Round 5
OpenAlex ID: W4283372640