Social connectedness promotes healthy aging and is associated with lower risk for psychological disorders and cognitive decline. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these relation Show more
Social connectedness promotes healthy aging and is associated with lower risk for psychological disorders and cognitive decline. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these relationships, and whether different network features are associated with unique health benefits. We used comprehensive data from 386 community-dwelling older adults with and without cognitive impairment to test the relationship between psychological and cognitive function and their personal social networks. Data were collected using a multisite sampling strategy, and included detailed social network interviews and comprehensive measures of episodic memory, executive function, and language. Longitudinal effects were evaluated using a subsample at high-risk for decline, having either at least one copy of APOE ε4 or a current diagnosis of impairment ( The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-44571-9. Show less