American neurologists from the University of Pennsylvania examined the relationship between the socioeconomic status of a region and the mental abilities of the elderly living in that region. They concluded that life circumstances are closely related to the brain’s resilience to the loss of cognitive skills later in life. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Alzheimer and Dementia (A&D).
The study was based on observations that biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are not always associated with cognitive decline in different people. For example, some people manage to maintain mental clarity even in the presence of significant neuropathologies.
The study used data from the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center Integrated Database, which focused on 469 autopsy cases between 2011 and 2023.
The researchers found that higher levels of neighborhood disadvantage were associated with lower cognitive abilities. This relationship persisted even after adjusting for several factors, including age, gender, race, and education level.
Study author Dr. “There is strong evidence that sociodemographic factors influence cognitive performance in older adults, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear,” said Edward Lee.
Even when controlling for neuropathological changes, the association between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive decline remained significant, the researchers noted. This suggests that the influence of socioeconomic factors on cognition operates through mechanisms beyond the pathologies that cause dementia.
Researchers also found that higher education reduced the negative effects of neighborhood disadvantage on cognitive functioning.
used to be a doctor said About the early signs of dementia.