Living in Poorer Neighborhoods Increases Dementia Risk: Study

 

Dementia

A groundbreaking study led by Duke University has shed light on one connection: the relationship between residential location and the risk of developing dementia.

Published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, this study led by clinical neuropsychologist Aaron Reuben and his team has identified a link between living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and an increased risk of dementia.

Dementia is a neurological disorder that affects memory and cognitive abilities and has long been a public health challenge. Approximately 50 million people worldwide are affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

With a projection of 150 million cases in the next 30 years due to the aging of the world's population, understanding risk factors becomes critical.

The study examined data from 1,695,447 people born between 1929 and 1968 in New Zealand, as well as populations from the United Kingdom and the United States. The researchers assessed the socioeconomic status of neighborhoods using indicators such as unemployment rates, education, and homeownership.

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The findings were significant: people residing in deprived areas had a 43% increased risk of developing dementia over a 20-year period of observation.

This discovery challenges the previous notion that dementia is purely a result of aging, pointing out that the residential environment also plays a crucial role.

Compromised mental health

The study also revealed that brain health may be compromised at younger ages in those living in deprived areas. Reuben's team's research, which included data from the Dunedin Study in New Zealand, highlighted that by age 45, those in less advantaged neighborhoods showed signs of worse brain health, regardless of their personal income or education.

Despite these encouraging conclusions, the researchers caution about the study's limitations, emphasizing its observational nature and lack of ability to establish direct causality. However, they highlight the importance of addressing environmental and social risk factors in dementia prevention.

In response to these findings, Aaron Reuben highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy that takes into account not only individual medical factors but also the community environment.

He proposed that creating safer and healthier environments, such as walkable streets and accessible green spaces, could be instrumental in the fight against dementia.

Experts in the field support these claims, underscoring the importance of considering environmental and lifestyle factors in dementia prevention. UK registered nurse June Andrews highlighted the influence of lifestyle and air quality on dementia risk, while Dr. Charles B. Hall of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York noted the need to further investigate the relationship between air pollution and brain health.

This pioneering study therefore provides valuable insight into the social and environmental determinants of dementia, opening the door to more holistic and community-based approaches in the prevention and treatment of this devastating disease.

With a renewed focus on neighborhood health, future research is expected to drive effective and meaningful interventions to address this growing public health challenge.