Association of social deprivation with cognitive status and decline in older adults

Introduction Social deprivation, i.e. the relative deprivation in socioeconomic domains, exacerbates disease risk. Less is known about its role in cognitive functioning and decline in older adults. This study thus aimed to investigate the association between social deprivation and cognitive status as well as rate of decline.

Methods We analysed data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement study (HRS) of individuals aged 50 and older. The analysis sample contained 11,101 respondents (mean age: 69.4, SD: 8.6, 55% female) with at least two cognitive assessments (mean follow up: 11.2, SD: 5.4). To quantify social deprivation we constructed a social deprivation index (SDI) with structural equation modelling. Multiple growth curve modelling was used to model cognitive status and decline as predicted by SDI. Results: After adjusting for covariates, higher SDI was associated with poorer cognitive status (β= -0.910, p <.001) and faster cognitive decline (β= -0.005, p=.002). Of the covariates, depressive symptoms, chronic disease burden, belonging to a racial or ethnical minority, and male gender were also associated with poorer cognitive status. Marriage statuses other than being married/partnered had a positive association with cognitive status.

Conclusion Our findings indicate that social deprivation was associated with significantly poorer cognitive status implying that preventing social deprivation can contribute to raising cognitive functioning in the older population and help reduce the incidence of dementia. Policy that facilitates early intervention in social deprivation will be key.

Publication History

Article published online:
02 September 2021