Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered why people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may face a higher risk of developing dementia.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, shows that poor neighborhood conditions are linked to damage in the brain’s small blood vessels and worse management of lifestyle habits that are known to increase dementia risk.
Dementia is a condition that causes memory loss and difficulty thinking. It tends to affect people in poorer areas more often, and even individuals with good education and jobs are not fully protected if they live in disadvantaged places.
In fact, research has shown that people in these areas tend to experience greater cognitive decline over time, regardless of their personal wealth or education level.
To better understand why this happens, the Cambridge team studied data from 585 adults aged 40 to 59 living in the UK and Ireland. These people were all part of the PREVENT-Dementia program and did not yet have dementia.
The researchers looked at where each person lived, how well they performed on thinking and memory tests, their health habits, and the condition of their brain blood vessels through MRI scans.
They found that people living in areas with high unemployment, low income, poor education, and few job training opportunities were more likely to have unhealthy habits—like poor sleep, less physical activity, obesity, and high blood pressure. These are all known risk factors for dementia.
Interestingly, people in deprived neighborhoods drank less alcohol, which is also a risk factor for dementia. But overall, the unhealthy lifestyle patterns were more common and more harmful.
The study also found that poorer areas with higher crime rates and worse housing had a bigger impact on people’s ability to think clearly. Specifically, it affected how fast they could process information, their attention, and their spatial awareness—skills that are important for daily life.
The researchers believe one reason for this is that people in poorer areas have more damage to the small blood vessels in their brains. These tiny vessels help deliver oxygen and nutrients, and when they are damaged, thinking skills can suffer.
The damage is linked to lifestyle factors, suggesting that the neighborhood environment plays a big role in brain health.
Dr. Audrey Low, the study’s first author, explained that where someone lives affects their ability to manage healthy habits. Even if a person is well-educated and earns a good income, living in a deprived area can make it harder to sleep well, exercise, or eat healthy.
These challenges, in turn, hurt the health of blood vessels in the brain and make cognitive decline more likely.
Senior researcher Professor John O’Brien emphasized that brain health is not only shaped by personal choices. Local environments matter, too. If we want to reduce dementia risk and improve public health, governments and communities need to address the social and economic barriers that make it harder for people to live healthy lives.
Different neighborhoods need different solutions. For example, in richer areas, cutting back on alcohol might be the focus. In lower-income areas, the goal might be to promote healthy eating and exercise, reduce crime, and improve access to healthcare and safe places to be active.
While the study focused on the UK and Ireland, the researchers noted that patterns might differ in other countries. In some Asian cultures, for instance, the relationship between neighborhood wealth and dementia risk may be different, so more research is needed globally.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
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