WW-FINGERS-SARS-CoV2 in Finland: Changes in lifestyle and risk factors for cognitive impairment during the pandemic in the FINGER study

ABSTRACT

Background Restrictions enforced in many counties during the COVID-19 pandemic may have both short- and long-term effects on the risk factors relevant for cognitive impairment and dementia. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred during the post-intervention follow-up phase of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) postponing the planned follow-up visits of the participants. We investigated how the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic affected lifestyles and other risk factors among the FINGER participants using a postal survey. Method A survey was sent in June 2020 to 859 eligible FINGER participants. The survey was developed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related infection-control measures on lifestyles, daily life, commitment to distancing measures, access to healthcare and social services, and changes in cognitive and social activities, as well as emotional health and wellbeing. Result A total of 735 participants responded to the survey (85% of the eligible participants). They were on average 78 years old at the time of the survey. Majority of the participants adopted some distancing practices during the first months of the pandemic. Older participants were more likely to practice total isolation than younger ones. Pandemic-related changes were reported in social engagement, including less contact with friends and family, and less frequent participation in cultural events or associations, but on the other hand the frequency of remote contacts with others was increased. About a third of the participants reported that their physical activity was reduced, and this was more common among those who had been less active earlier. Pandemic-related changes in lifestyle and activities were more evident among those living alone. Conclusion Finnish older persons were mainly reporting that they coped in the pandemic situation quite well. Older participants seemed to be more susceptible to negative changes. Also persons with less physical activity previously were likely to reduce their activities even more. This may have long-term consequences on the cognitive health of older adults, and it may also impact the longer-term effects of the FINGER intervention.