Community-Level Social, Environmental Factors Tied to Mild Cognitive Impairment

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Several community-wide social and environmental factors are associated with the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older dementia-free individuals, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Mary Ganguli, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues examined associations between community-wide social determinants of health and MCI. The analysis included data from 2,830 dementia-free individuals (aged 65 years and older).

The researchers found that unadjusted models revealed higher odds of MCI with higher Area Deprivation Index scores (odds ratio [OR], 1.01), higher fine particulate matter (PM_2.5; OR, 1.16), higher homicide rates (OR, 1.007), lesser greenspace (OR, 0.99), and Southern state schooling (OR, 2.06). When adjusting for age, race, sex, and educational level, the Area Deprivation Index remained a significant risk factor. However, for PM_2.5 and Southern state schooling, there were significant interactions with race; Black participants were more strongly affected than White participants.

“In this cohort, several community-wide social/environmental factors were associated with MCI,” the authors write. “While clinicians should continue to encourage older adults to modify their individual risk factors, policy changes are needed to mitigate social determinants of health in the community.”

Abstract/Full Text