"Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Decline: The Link to Dementia Risk"
New research published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia reveals a strong link between neighborhood socioeconomic status and cognitive abilities in older individuals, independent of brain pathologies associated with dementia. The study, based on autopsy cases, found that living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with lower cognitive abilities, even after adjusting for demographic factors and neuropathological changes. Interestingly, higher educational attainment seemed to mitigate the adverse effects of neighborhood disadvantage on cognitive function, suggesting that policies promoting equitable resource allocation, such as enhanced educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities, may have an impact on dementia.