Living in different areas can greatly impact your health. Various factors, such as the environment, income, and overall living conditions, can play a role in affecting your long-term well-being. Recent studies suggest that these factors may also influence your chances of developing dementia.
A new study published in the Journal Neurology revealed that individuals residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods are more than twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those in wealthier areas.
Conducted by Professor Pankaja Desai at Rush University in Chicago, the study involved over 6,800 participants aged 65 and older from four nearby communities. The research found that individuals in the most disadvantaged areas had a 22% risk of developing dementia, whereas those in more privileged areas had only an 11% risk.
Even after adjusting for factors like age, gender, and education, the study observed that individuals in disadvantaged neighborhoods were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. This connection was determined using the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), which incorporates various socio-economic factors to assess neighborhood-level risk.
Furthermore, individuals in disadvantaged areas experienced a faster decline in cognitive function as they aged, regardless of an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. This emphasizes the impact of community-level factors on dementia risk.
According to Desai, addressing neighborhood-level social characteristics is crucial in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and planning efficient health services. The study also highlighted disparities in dementia risk among different racial groups, indicating the importance of considering community factors in dementia care.
While the study’s focus was on Chicago neighborhoods and may not be universally applicable, the findings underscore the link between neighborhood disadvantage and dementia risk. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the significance of environmental factors in brain health.
About our experts
Dr. Pankaja Desai is an assistant professor at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and serves as the management director of Rush Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core. Her research has been featured in publications such as American Journal of Health Behavior and Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
