Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are influenced by various risk factors.
Recent research suggests that the neighborhood environment can also play a significant role in brain health. Factors such as low income levels and limited access to green spaces may contribute to cognitive decline.
The Impact of Social Determinants
Social determinants of health, including neighborhood conditions, have a profound influence on cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and cerebrovascular health.
Understanding how these factors interact is crucial for developing interventions that can enhance brain health, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Prior studies have shown that a specific type of brain damage called white matter hyperintensities is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, and stroke.
This research suggests that the neighborhood environment can exacerbate this risk.
The Study
In this study, researchers examined 1,260 cognitively normal individuals aged 65 or older. The participants underwent MRI scans approximately five years apart.
The researchers measured changes in white matter hyperintensities and brain ventricle size. They also explored the relationship between neighborhood green spaces, neighborhood income, and the MRI findings.
The study found that individuals living in neighborhoods with lower levels of green space and lower income were more likely to experience worsening white matter hyperintensities.
This combination of factors may pose a risk to brain health. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play.
Green spaces in neighborhoods can have a positive impact on brain health. They offer quiet places for older adults to relax, reduce chronic stress, and engage in physical activity.
These spaces are considered one of the social determinants of health that can be modified through policy interventions, such as creating more parks and planting additional trees.
Conclusion
The neighborhood environment is a crucial factor to consider in the context of brain health.
Low income levels and limited access to green spaces can contribute to cognitive decline and brain damage.
Recognizing the role of social determinants of health and implementing policy interventions to improve neighborhood conditions can be essential steps in promoting better brain health, especially for older adults.
If you care about brain health ,please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
