Non-economic social deprivation and cognitive functioning later in life: Results from the DELCODE study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Low socioeconomic status is associated with a higher risk for a number of health conditions, including cognitive impairment. Objective While the association with economic indicators has been well researched, aim of this paper was to investigate specifically the association between non-economic social deprivation and cognitive functioning later in life. Methods Participants without objective cognitive impairment at baseline (n = 91 controls, n = 106 with subjective cognitive decline) of the multicenter DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE) filled out a posthoc survey on social deprivation. Factor analysis identified four non-economic domains of social deprivation (Residential area conditions, Accessibility, Neighborhood support, Household distress). Cognition was assessed via the CERAD neuropsychological battery. Analyses were conducted using linear regression models as well as maximum-likelihood mixed-effects models adjusted for age, gender, years of education, marital status, depression, BMI, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Results At the time of the survey, cognitive functioning was significantly lower among participants with high deprivation ( b = −0.21, p = 0.037). These participants also had a faster rate of cognitive decline ( b = −0.07, p = 0.006). Analyses of the deprivation sub-scores revealed statistically significant effects only for Accessibility ( b = −0.31, p = 0.001; rate of cognitive decline b = −0.07, p = 0.004). Conclusions Our findings suggest that non-economic social deprivation, especially in terms of access to a grocery store, pharmacy, postal office, and bus stop, might be relevant for maintaining cognitive functioning in old age. Further research should explore potential mechanisms of how these environmental conditions affect brain aging and neurodegenerative processes.
Source: Journal of Alzheimer s Disease
Authors: Francisca S. Rodriguez, Luca Kleineidam, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Oliver Peters, Daria Gref, Louise Droste Zu Senden, Josef Priller, Eike Jakob Spruth, Slawek Altenstein, Anja Schneider, Klaus Fliessbach, Ayda Rostamzadeh, Emrah Düzel, Wenzel Glanz, Michaela Butryn, Katharina Buerger, Daniel Janowitz, Stefan Teipel, Ingo Kilimann, Christoph Laske, Matthias H. Munk, Annika Spottke, Nina Roy-Kluth, Michael Wagner, Steffen Wolfsgruber, Melina Stark, Sophia Stoecklein, Frank Jessen, the DELCODE study group
Institutions: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Bonn, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, UK Dementia Research Institute, Stiftung Charité, Technical University of Munich, University of Edinburgh, University of Cologne, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Institut für Schlaganfall- und Demenzforschung, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7160961028