Social Infrastructure and Cognitive Functioning: The Role of Social Network

Background and Purpose: Social infrastructure—the physical places in a community where people can access services and participate in shared public activities—has been increasingly recognized as a key component of the built environment influencing older adults' health. Recent studies suggest that social infrastructure can promote cognitive functioning by facilitating social engagement and reducing social isolation. However, the cognitive benefits of social infrastructure may vary depending on social network characteristics, as social connections shape older adults' capacity to navigate and utilize available resources. While existing literature has explored the positive role of social networks in supporting cognitive health, little is known about how social networks modify the impact of neighborhood-level infrastructure. Therefore, this study aims to examine whether social network characteristics moderate the association between social infrastructure and cognitive status in later life.

Methods: Data were drawn from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP, 2015-2016). The analytic sample included 1,547 respondents aged 65 and above with complete data on cognitive functioning and social network measurement. Cognitive status was determined by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores and categorized into three groups: dementia risk (<18), mild cognitive impairment (18–22), and normal cognition (>22). Social infrastructure was assessed using two indicators: perceived availability of neighborhood-based amenities (such as grocery stores and parks), and self-reported participation in social activities (e.g., frequency of volunteer work). Social network was measured from the NSHAP roster, capturing network size, frequency of social interactions, and network density. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the main and interaction effects of social infrastructure and social networks on cognitive outcomes, controlling for demographic and health-related covariates.

Results: Perceived availability and the utilization of social infrastructure were not directly associated with cognitive status. However, interaction terms indicated significant moderating effects by social network characteristics. Among older adults with higher frequency of social interactions, greater perceived social infrastructure availability was associated with 57% higher likelihood of being in the dementia risk group (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.21, 2.02). Social network size moderated the association between social infrastructure utilization and cognitive status groups. Among those with larger social networks, more frequent use of social infrastructure was associated with 6% lower likelihood of being in the dementia risk group (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.91, 0.98).

Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggested that the cognitive benefits of social infrastructure depend on social network characteristics. For older adults with higher frequency of social interactions, perceived social infrastructure availability may not indicate additional cognitive stimulation but rather a response to existing decline—reflecting compensatory or support-seeking intentions in the context of cognitive impairment. Results underscored the importance of developing targeted community interventions to older adults with different cognitive profiles. Social workers play a critical role in integrating build and social environment to support cognitive health in later life, facilitate socially meaningful engagement, and promote independence among older adults.