Associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older women and men: Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Mayra L. Estrella*, Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu, Linda C. Gallo, Carmen R. Isasi, Krista M. Perreira, Thanh Huyen T. Vu, Elizabeth Vasquez, Shruti Sachdeva, Donglin Zeng, Maria M. Llabre, Wassim Tarraf, Hector M. González, Martha L. Daviglus, Melissa Lamar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To examine cross-sectional associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino women and men. Methods: Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008–2011) and its Sociocultural Ancillary Study (2009–2010) were used. Participants were Hispanic/Latino women (n = 1812) and men (n = 1034) aged 45–74 years. Survey-weighted linear regression models were used to examine associations between self-reported perceived neighborhood environment (i.e., neighborhood social cohesion and problems categorized as quintiles, and neighborhood safety from crime categorized as low, medium, or high) with cognitive function (i.e., global cognition, verbal learning, memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed scores) in women and men. Final model adjusted for age, Hispanic/Latino background, language, field site, household income, education, years lived in neighborhood, and depressive symptoms. Results: Women in the lowest quintile of perceived neighborhood problems (vs. highest quintile) had higher global cognition (β 0.48, 95% CI 0.03, 0.94, p trend 0.229) and memory scores (0.60, 95% CI 0.11, 1.09, p trend: 0.060). Women in the highest quintile of perceived neighborhood social cohesion (vs. lowest quintile) had lower global cognition (β − 0.56, 95% CI − 1.02, − 0.09, p trend 0.004), verbal learning (B − 1.01, 95% CI − 2.00, − 0.03, p trend 0.015), verbal fluency (B − 2.00, 95% CI − 3.83, − 0.16, p trend 0.006), and processing speed (B − 2.11, 95% CI − 3.87, − 0.36, p trend 0.009). There was no association between perceived neighborhood safety from crime and cognition among women, or between any perceived neighborhood environment measure and cognition among men. Conclusions: Middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latina women living in neighborhoods with the lowest perceived problems had higher global cognition and memory. Women living in neighborhoods with the highest perceived social cohesion had lower global cognition, verbal learning, verbal fluency, and processing speed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)685-696
Number of pages12
JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume55
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2020

Funding

The authors would like to thank the HCHS/SOL and its SCAS participants as well as the staff for their commitment to this study. Mayra L. Estrella was partially supported by the NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) T32-HL125294 and by a Diversity Supplement from the NIH-NHLBI for HCHS/SOL Chicago Field Center (75N92019D00012). Dr. Hector González was supported by the NIH-National Aging Institute (5R01AG048642-04). The HCHS/SOL was carried out as a collaborative study supported by contracts from the NHLBI to the University of North Carolina (N01-HC65233), University of Miami (N01-HC65234), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N01-HC65235), University of Illinois at Chicago (HHSN268201300003I), Northwestern University (N01-HC65236), and San Diego State University (N01-HC65237). The following institutes/centers/offices contribute to the HCHS/SOL through a transfer of funds to the NHLBI: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Institution Office of Dietary Supplements. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; or the US Department of Health and Human Services. The authors would like to thank the HCHS/SOL and its SCAS participants as well as the staff for their commitment to this study. Mayra L. Estrella was partially supported by the NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) T32-HL125294 and by a Diversity Supplement from the NIH-NHLBI for HCHS/SOL Chicago Field Center (75N92019D00012). Dr. Hector Gonz?lez was supported by the NIH-National Aging Institute (5R01AG048642-04). The HCHS/SOL was carried out as a collaborative study supported by contracts from the NHLBI to the University of North Carolina (N01-HC65233), University of Miami (N01-HC65234), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N01-HC65235), University of Illinois at Chicago (HHSN268201300003I), Northwestern University (N01-HC65236), and San Diego State University (N01-HC65237). The following institutes/centers/offices contribute to the HCHS/SOL through a transfer of funds to the NHLBI: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Institution Office of Dietary Supplements. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; or the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Hispanics/Latinos
  • Neighborhood problems
  • Safety from crime
  • Social cohesion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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