Loneliness and family disconnection: impact on cognitive decline in older adults.

  • Rider S. Soto-Ramones Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. ²Comunidad Estudiantil para la Difusión e Investigación de la Anatomía Humana (CEDIAH)
  • Zulimar C. Suarez-Mendoza Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. ²Comunidad Estudiantil para la Difusión e Investigación de la Anatomía Humana (CEDIAH)
  • Miguel A. Vaimberg-Ballesteros Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. ²Comunidad Estudiantil para la Difusión e Investigación de la Anatomía Humana (CEDIAH)
  • José A. Varela-Herrera Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. ²Comunidad Estudiantil para la Difusión e Investigación de la Anatomía Humana (CEDIAH)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/10.5281/zenodo.17979911
Keywords: Cognitive impairment, Older adults, Social isolation, Disconnection, Family

Abstract

In Latin America, rapid population aging increases mental health challenges for older adults, especially given the risk of depression and cognitive decline.

Exacerbated by socioeconomic crises such as that in Venezuela, these are crucial factors that aggrava- te this problem. This research project analyzed the relationship between family disconnection and cog- nitive decline in adults over 60 years of age at the Club de Abuelos Historias Doradas in Maracaibo, Zulia, who experience involuntary social isolation. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, field study was conducted with 30 participants, excluding cases of advanced dementia. Surveys were administered using Google Forms, the APGAR Scale assessed family disconnection, the shortened version of the UCLA Scale measured loneliness, and a pilot tool based on the Mini-Mental State Examination scree- ned for cognitive functional impairment. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The results showed that 43.4% were between 60 and 69 years old and 80% were women. Forty-five percent reported fa- mily dysfunction, 30% lacked emotional support, and 56.7% had functional cognitive impairment. In conclusion, family disconnection and unchosen lo- neliness are critical factors in cognitive impairment in older adults.

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Published
2025-12-21
How to Cite
Rider S. Soto-Ramones, Zulimar C. Suarez-Mendoza, Miguel A. Vaimberg-Ballesteros, & José A. Varela-Herrera. (2025). Loneliness and family disconnection: impact on cognitive decline in older adults. REDIELUZ, 15(2), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.5281/10.5281/zenodo.17979911
Issue
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2025): REDIELUZ- Sembrando la Investigación Estudiantil
Section
Health Sciences

Copyright (c) 2025 Rider S. Soto-Ramones, Zulimar C. Suarez-Mendoza, Miguel A. Vaimberg-Ballesteros, José A. Varela-Herrera

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