Neighborhood ‘Disamenities’: local barriers and cognitive function among Black and white aging adults

Abstract

BackgroundThis study examined the association between cognitive function and three neighborhood ‘disamenities’ that may pose local barriers to utilizing community resources and increase risk for cognitive decline.MethodUsing national data from 21,165 urban- and suburban-dwelling Black and white adults (mean age: 67 years) in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study, we assessed global cognitive function through a factor score of five cognitive screening tests. General Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) tested whether residing in areas with more polluting sites, highways, and limited walkability was associated with worse cognitive function.ResultsLimited walkability and the presence of polluting sites had a significant negative association with cognitive function after controlling for individual and neighborhood factors.ConclusionNeighborhood disamenities may be linked to cognitive function among aging residents. Identifying neighborhood factors that pose barriers to accessing community resources may inform upstream policy applications to reduce risk for cognitive decline.