According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .
Effects of socially stimulating group intervention on lonely, older people's cognition: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE Loneliness may predict impaired cognition among older people . The aim of this study was to determine the effects of socially stimulating group intervention on cognition among older individuals suffering from loneliness . DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial . SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Two hundred thirty-five participants ( ≥75 years ) in seven day care centers in Finl and . INTERVENTION Group intervention was based on the effects of closed-group dynamics and peer support . The three-month intervention was aim ed to enhance interaction and friendships between participants and to socially stimulate them . Each group was facilitated by two specifically trained professionals . In addition to active discussion s , the groups included three types of activities depending on the participants ' interests : 1 ) therapeutic writing ; 2 ) group exercise ; and 3 ) art experiences .  MEASUREMENTS Cognition was measured by the Alzheimer 's Disease Assessment Scale ( ADAS-Cog ) , and mental function was measured by the 15D measure . RESULTS The intervention and control groups were similar at baseline with respect to their demographics , disease burden , depression , and cognition . The ADAS-Cog scale improved more in the intervention group than in the control group within the three-month period , with mean changes being -2.6 points ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : -3.4 to -1.8 ) and -1.6 points ( 95 % CI : -2.2 to -1.0 ) , respectively . The dimension of mental function in the 15D showed significant improvement at 12 months in the intervention group ( + 0.048 , 95 % CI : + 0.013 to + 0.085 ) compared with the control group ( -0.027 , 95 % CI : -0.063 to + 0.010 ) . CONCLUSION Psychosocial group intervention improved lonely older people 's cognition
According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .