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

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1052009
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15T14:00:47Z
• Authors: Myrra Vernooij-Da...; 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 d...; Henrik Wiegelmann; Anna Marseglia; Marcus Richards; Rene Melis; Marjolein de Vugt; Esme Moniz-Cook; Yun-Hee Jeon; Marieke Perry; Karin Wolf-Ostermann
• Keywords: Radboudumc 18: Healthcare improvement science RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Aging; Epidemiology; 150; RC435-571; Cognitive reserve; 610; Radboud University Medical Center; 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Neurodegenerative; anzsrc-for: 1103 Clinical Sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; anzsrc-for: 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; concept advancement; Conceptual framework; Behavioral and Social Science; Acquired Cognitive Impairment; Dementia prevention; Social health; 3202 Clinical Sciences; social health; Psychiatry; Prevention; dementia prevention; Neurosciences; Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD); 3 Good Health and Well Being; anzsrc-for: 1701 Psychology; cognitive reserve; Brain Disorders; 3. Good health; Mental Health; cognitive reserve; concept advancement; conceptual framework; dementia prevention; epidemiology; social health; Neurological; Radboudumc 1: Alzheimer`s disease DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience; Dementia; anzsrc-for: 3202 Clinical Sciences; epidemiology; conceptual framework; Concept advancement; anzsrc-for: 1117 Public Health and Health Services

ObjectiveThe 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.ProcessWe 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 frameworkUnderpinning 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.DiscussionThe 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.