| Title: | Association of family and friend relationship satisfaction with incident dementia: A prospective cohort study of 104,093 participants |
| Journal: | Alzheimer's & Dementia |
| Published: | 18 Mar 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41851046/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71303 |
Publication 17350
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Family relationships and friendships are important for cognitive health, yet how their quality relates to dementia risk remains poorly understood.</p>
METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 104,093 UK Biobank participants aged 40 to 69 years who were dementia free within the first 4 years. Relationship satisfaction was categorized as satisfied or dissatisfied. Cox regression models assessed associations.</p>
RESULTS: Over 13.56 years, 1359 developed dementia. In the fully adjusted model, dissatisfied (vs. satisfied) family relationships were associated with elevated dementia risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.334, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.069-1.663), driven primarily by very dissatisfied participants (HR: 1.663). Friendship dissatisfaction showed no significant association with dementia risk (HR: 1.060, 95% CI: 0.752-1.494). Overall relationship dissatisfaction was associated with increased dementia risk (HR 1.265, 95% CI 1.035-1.546), though becoming non-significant after adjustment for additional psychological factors.</p>
DISCUSSION: Family relationship quality may represent a risk factor of dementia warranting consideration in prevention strategies.</p>
17 Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Cohort Studies
- Dementia
- Family
- Family Relations
- Female
- Friends
- Humans
- Incidence
- Interpersonal Relations
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Personal Satisfaction
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- United Kingdom
9 Authors
- Dandan Sheng
- Ting Yang
- Yuye Ning
- Meilin Chen
- Zhibo Wang
- Yumei Liang
- Siqi Xie
- Lan Ding
- Jianping Jia
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 150493 | Influence of Lifestyle, Environmental Factors, and Genetic Drive on Neurodegenerative Pathogenesis and Brain Health |
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