Research Links Neighborhood Disadvantage to Increased Blood Pressure and Cognitive Decline
Recent findings from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine indicate a significant correlation between residing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and adverse health outcomes, including elevated blood pressure and diminished cognitive abilities. This study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, sheds light on the impact of social factors on health.
Researcher James R. Bateman, M.D., who led the study, emphasized that unequal access to essential resources, such as education, employment, and housing, heightens the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease and related cognitive disorders. He noted that further investigation is necessary to fully understand how these social determinants of health, particularly neighborhood disadvantage, affect overall health.
Neighborhood disadvantage is characterized by a lack of vital social and economic resources. The research team employed the nationally recognized Area Deprivation Index to assess various factors, including the quality of housing, educational attainment, and income levels within different neighborhoods.
The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and both cardiometabolic health and cognitive function in individuals, regardless of whether they had a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Bateman explained that comparing those with and without a diagnosis allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how cognitive status interacts with environmental factors and health.
Cognition encompasses a range of mental processes, including thinking, learning, memory, awareness, and judgment. Mild cognitive impairment is identified as a decline in these cognitive skills that exceeds what is typically expected with aging and serves as a precursor to dementia.
The research involved a thorough analysis of data from 537 adults aged 55 and older, collected between 2016 and 2021 as part of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Healthy Brain Study. Participants underwent clinical evaluations, neurocognitive assessments, neuroimaging, and cardiometabolic testing, which screened for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
The neurocognitive assessments aimed to evaluate various cognitive constructs, including memory, executive functioning, language capabilities, visuospatial skills, concentration, and attentiveness. The results demonstrated that individuals living in disadvantaged neighborhoods exhibited higher blood pressure and a poorer cardiometabolic index, along with reduced cognitive scores, particularly among those who did not have a prior diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.
Furthermore, the study revealed that neighborhood disadvantage was linked to increased blood sugar levels, as measured by hemoglobin A1C, but only in individuals already diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The findings suggest that the living environment exerts a more significant influence on the heart's health and brain function in individuals without existing cognitive issues.
The implications of this research underscore the urgency of addressing structural changes to improve social determinants of health. Bateman highlighted the necessity for interventions aimed at mitigating the risk factors associated with both cardiometabolic health and cognitive decline.
Co-author Sudarshan Krishnamurthy reinforced the study's conclusion, stating that the resources and opportunities available in a person's living environment significantly affect their risk for developing dementia.
This research contributes to the growing body of evidence that supports the need for policy changes aimed at enhancing community resources and improving living conditions, ultimately fostering better health outcomes for individuals in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
