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Digital Isolation and Dementia Risk in Older Adults: Longitudinal Cohort Study
Cheng Deng, Na Shen, Guangzhou Li, Ke Zhang, Shijun Yang. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2025-01-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The moderate to high isolation group demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of dementia compared with the low isolation group. In the discovery cohort, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.22 (95% CI 1.01-1.47, P=.04), while the validation cohort showed an HR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.27-2.08, P<.001). The pooled analysis across both cohorts revealed an adjusted HR of 1.36 (95% CI 1.16-1.59, P<.001). Kaplan-Meier curves corroborated a higher incidence of dementia in the moderate to high isolation group. Our findings indicate that digital isolation is a significant risk factor for dementia among older adults. This study underscores the importance of digital engagement in mitigating dementia risk and suggests that promoting digital literacy and access to digital resources should be integral components of public health strategies aimed at dementia prevention.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Deng, C., Shen, N., Li, G., Zhang, K., & Yang, S. (2025). Digital Isolation and Dementia Risk in Older Adults: Longitudinal Cohort Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/65379
Vancouver
Deng C, Shen N, Li G, Zhang K, Yang S. Digital Isolation and Dementia Risk in Older Adults: Longitudinal Cohort Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2025. doi:10.2196/65379. PMID: 39969956.
BibTeX
@article{deng2025-39969956,
author = {Deng, Cheng and Shen, Na and Li, Guangzhou and Zhang, Ke and Yang, Shijun},
title = {{Digital Isolation and Dementia Risk in Older Adults: Longitudinal Cohort Study}},
journal = {Journal of Medical Internet Research},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2196/65379},
pmid = {39969956},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/65379}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The moderate to high isolation group demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of dementia compared with the low isolation group.
- In the discovery cohort, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.22 (95% CI 1.01-1.47, P=.04), while the validation cohort showed an HR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.27-2.08, P<.001).
- The pooled analysis across both cohorts revealed an adjusted HR of 1.36 (95% CI 1.16-1.59, P<.001).
- Kaplan-Meier curves corroborated a higher incidence of dementia in the moderate to high isolation group.
- Our findings indicate that digital isolation is a significant risk factor for dementia among older adults.
Why it matters
This longitudinal cohort study found that older adults with moderate to high digital isolation had a significantly elevated risk of dementia compared with those with low isolation. The authors suggest promoting digital literacy and access as part of public health strategies aimed at dementia prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants8,189
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Medical Internet Research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Medical Internet Research: journal h-index 286 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 8,189 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 7 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Shijun Yang: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Utah: institution h-index 1,238 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39969956) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2196/65379
- PubMed: 39969956
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Medical Internet Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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