Midlife Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Function in Late Life
Author Information
Author(s): Cheng Greta, Buchanich Jeanine, Gary-Webb Tiffany, Mair Christina, Shaaban C, Rosso Andrea
Primary Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Hypothesis
Midlife neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) may be more relevant to cognitive outcomes in late life, and associations may vary by race.
Conclusion
Midlife NSES is associated with cognitive function in late life, especially for Black individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- Midlife NSES was associated with baseline cognitive function among Black participants.
- White participants showed no significant association between midlife NSES and cognitive function.
- The study included a diverse sample of older adults from the Pittsburgh area.
Takeaway
Where you live when you're middle-aged can affect how well you think when you're older, and this is especially true for Black people.
Methodology
Participants' cognitive function was assessed repeatedly over 13 years using the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, and midlife NSES was calculated from census data.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on geocoded addresses and historical socioeconomic data.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing cognitive function and relies on historical census data.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 37% Black and 63% White older adults aged 70 and above.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.14, 0.98 for Black participants; 95% CI: -0.31, 0.21 for White participants
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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