Neighborhood Resources and Cognitive Health in Older Mexican Americans
Author Information
Author(s): Lee Ji Hyun, Rote Sunshine, Mahmoudi Elham, Armendariz Marina, Antonucci Toni, Manning Mark
Hypothesis
Do neighborhood social and service organizations impact cognitive decline among older Mexican Americans differently in urban and rural settings?
Conclusion
The presence of religious organizations in urban areas is linked to better cognitive health, while civic organizations are associated with worse cognitive outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Neighborhood resources are important for healthy brain aging.
- Cognitive decline was assessed using MMSE scores adjusted for education.
- Urban settings showed different impacts of organizations on cognition compared to rural settings.
Takeaway
Having places to gather, like churches, can help older people think better, but too many community groups can actually make it harder for them to think, especially in cities.
Methodology
The study linked panel data from the H-EPESE with census-level data and used generalized estimating equations to analyze cognitive decline.
Limitations
The study may not generalize to all older adults as it focuses specifically on Mexican Americans in urban and rural settings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily older Mexican Americans, average age 80, 64% female, and 54% U.S. born.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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