Neighborhood Physical Disadvantage, Education, and Cognitive Decline Trajectories in U.S. Older Adults

Q: What was the main purpose of the study?

To identify cognitive decline trajectories over time and examine how neighborhood physical disorder relates to those trajectories, including whether associations differ by educational background.

Q: How were cognitive decline trajectories determined?

Using group-based trajectory models on data from 7,460 participants aged 50+ in the Health and Retirement Study from 2006 to 2020.

Q: What overall association did neighborhood physical disadvantage show?

Neighborhood physical disadvantage was linked to higher odds of belonging to several trajectories with worse cognitive outcomes, including lower baseline cognition and faster decline compared with the best trajectory group.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by hdkawk

Study examines how neighborhood physical disadvantage and educational attainment relate to cognitive decline trajectories among U.S. adults aged 50 and older. Data from 7,460 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2020) were analyzed using group-based trajectory models to identify latent trajectory groups. Multinomial logistic analyses adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Five trajectories were found, and neighborhood physical disadvantage increased odds of belonging to multiple less favorable groups, alongside lower baseline cognition and faster decline, with education moderating these associations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background and Objective

Data Source and Participants

Methods and Trajectory Identification

Trajectory Groups

Key Findings and Education Moderation

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 401 impact on cognitive trajectories. This study aims to identify the trajectories of cognitive decline and examine the associations between the trajectories and neighborhood physical disorder, and whether these associations differ by educational background. We used data from 7,460 participants aged 50+ in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 2006 to 2020.We used group-based trajectory models to identify latent groups for trajectories of cognitive decline over time. Multinomial logistic analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. We identified five trajectory groups: Group One (“high start, stable”), Group Two (“medium-high start, stable”), Group Three (“medium-high start, slight decrease”), Group Four (“medium start, sharp decrease”), and Group Five (“low start, slight decrease”). We found that neighborhood physical disadvantage was associated with higher odds of belonging to Group One (RRR=1.17, P < 0.01), Two (RRR=1.28, p < 0.001), Three (RRR=1.33, p<.001) and Four (RRR=1.23, p < 0.01), all with lower baseline cognition and faster decline than Group One, which had the best cognitive trajectory. Additionally, participants with more than a high school education who lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to be in groups with lower baseline cognition and faster decline than Group One. Our findings highlighted the important role of neighborhood physical disadvantage and education in older adults’ cognitive function trajectories. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1364 NEIGHBORHOOD PHYSICAL DISADVANTAGE, EDUCATION, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE TRAJECTORIES IN U.S. OLDER ADULTS Kedong Ding, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States One in four U.S. older adults experiences cognitive decline before death, which can significantly affect their quality of life and independence. Given the important role of neighborhood environments in cognitive health, it remains unclear whether living in physically disadvantaged neighborhoods has a long-term

FAQs

What was the main purpose of the study?

To identify cognitive decline trajectories over time and examine how neighborhood physical disorder relates to those trajectories, including whether associations differ by educational background.

How were cognitive decline trajectories determined?

Using group-based trajectory models on data from 7,460 participants aged 50+ in the Health and Retirement Study from 2006 to 2020.

What overall association did neighborhood physical disadvantage show?

Neighborhood physical disadvantage was linked to higher odds of belonging to several trajectories with worse cognitive outcomes, including lower baseline cognition and faster decline compared with the best trajectory group.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by hdkawk