A host of social, environmental and psychological factors could play a role in the link between a neighborhood’s socioeconomic status and the risk of its inhabitants developing dementia. For example, poorer areas have lower access to healthcare and less green space, which has been shown to protect older adults from dementia risk, according to recent studies. Air pollution, which was tied to cognitive decline in a study by Chinese researchers, tends to be worse in poorer neighborhoods. Multiple studies have linked a healthy diet with improved cognitive function, but healthy foods are more expensive in many regions.
Crime and social disorder, which impact a person’s perception of safety and community cohesion, may also increase dementia risk for residents in lower socioeconomic status areas. Chronic stress due to structural disadvantages, discrimination and economic adversity will wear down a person’s brain, as high cortisol — the hormone that correlates with stress — produces neurotoxic effects, according to multiple studies. “With healthy lifestyle habits a key factor in reducing or delaying your risk of developing dementia, it is important for everyone to have access to local facilities such as gyms and public pools, green spaces and health care, but unfortunately that is not always the case,” said Professor Matthew Pase.
BARTOV, Shira Li. Disponível em: http://newsweek.com Acesso em: out. 2022.
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