In recent years, the significance of robust social networking is being increasingly recognized due to its association with better cognitive performance. On the other hand, social isolation is linked to higher risk of developing dementia in mid-life and in older age groups. Only few studies have examined social networking in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The lack of social connectedness could increase the chances of these individuals progressing to dementia.

We cross-sectionally assessed social networking among 122 subjects with MCI and 2403 cognitively healthy subjects, aged 45 years and above, from the Srinivaspura Aging, NeuroSenescence and COGnition (SANSCOG) study cohort in rural southern India. Cohen’s Social Network Index (SNI) was used to assess social networking, wherein three dimensions are assessed: network diversity, number of people in social network, and number of embedded networks. The diagnosis of MCI was made using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) instrument. This is an extensively validated 5-point scale, wherein six cognitive and functional domains are assessed: Memory, Orientation, Judgment & Problem Solving, Community Affairs, Home & Hobbies, and Personal Care. The overall CDR score of ‘0’ was interpreted as cognitively normal and CDR score of ‘0.5’ as MCI. The SNI dimension scores were compared between subjects with MCI and cognitively healthy subjects using t-test and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

The mean scores of all three SNI domains were significantly lower in MCI compared to cognitively healthy subjects: network diversity (5.30 ± 1.54 vs. 5.94 ± 1.60, p < 0.001), number of people in social network (18.4 ± 8.61 vs. 20.3 ± 8.87, p = 0.023), and number of embedded networks (1.80 ± 1.26 vs. 2.03 ± 1.14, p = 0.038).

Aging rural Indians with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have poorer social networks than their cognitively normal counterparts. Hence, social connectedness should be routinely evaluated in individuals with MCI and prompt social interventions should be instituted to enhance their social functioning. Social isolation may indeed be a contributory risk factor for developing cognitive impairment. However, causal relationships and reverse causality should be evaluated in further longitudinal studies.