Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00702

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Non-economic social deprivation and cognitive functioning later in life: Results from the DELCODE study.

Rodriguez, F. S. (First author)DZNE* ; Kleineidam, L.DZNE* ; Hoffmann, W.DZNE* ; Peters, O.DZNE* ; Gref, D.DZNE* ; Droste, L.DZNE* ; Priller, J.DZNE* ; Spruth, E. J.DZNE* ; Altenstein, S.DZNE* ; Schneider, A.DZNE* ; Fliessbach, K.DZNE* ; Rostamzadeh, A. ; Düzel, E.DZNE* ; Glanz, W.DZNE* ; Butryn, M.DZNE* ; Buerger, K.DZNE* ; Janowitz, D.DZNE* ; Teipel, S.DZNE* ; Kilimann, I.DZNE* ; Laske, C.DZNE* ; Munk, M.DZNE* ; Spottke, A.DZNE* ; Roy-Kluth, N.DZNE* ; Wagner, M.DZNE* ; Wolfsgruber, S.DZNE* ; Stark, M.DZNE* ; Stoecklein, S.DZNE* ; Jessen, F. (Last author)DZNE* ; group, D. s. (Collaboration Author)

2026
IOS Press Amsterdam

This record in other databases:    

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1177/13872877261449395

Abstract: BackgroundLow socioeconomic status is associated with a higher risk for a number of health conditions, including cognitive impairment.ObjectiveWhile the association with economic indicators has been well researched, aim of this paper was to investigate specifically the association between non-economic social deprivation and cognitive functioning later in life.MethodsParticipants without objective cognitive impairment at baseline (n = 91 controls, n = 106 with subjective cognitive decline) of the multicenter DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE) filled out a posthoc survey on social deprivation. Factor analysis identified four non-economic domains of social deprivation (Residential area conditions, Accessibility, Neighborhood support, Household distress). Cognition was assessed via the CERAD neuropsychological battery. Analyses were conducted using linear regression models as well as maximum-likelihood mixed-effects models adjusted for age, gender, years of education, marital status, depression, BMI, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes.ResultsAt the time of the survey, cognitive functioning was significantly lower among participants with high deprivation (b = -0.21, p = 0.037). These participants also had a faster rate of cognitive decline (b = -0.07, p = 0.006). Analyses of the deprivation sub-scores revealed statistically significant effects only for Accessibility (b = -0.31, p = 0.001; rate of cognitive decline b = -0.07, p = 0.004).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that non-economic social deprivation, especially in terms of access to a grocery store, pharmacy, postal office, and bus stop, might be relevant for maintaining cognitive functioning in old age. Further research should explore potential mechanisms of how these environmental conditions affect brain aging and neurodegenerative processes.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Cognitive Dysfunction: psychology (MeSH) ; Cognitive Dysfunction: epidemiology (MeSH) ; Social Deprivation (MeSH) ; Neuropsychological Tests (MeSH) ; Cognition: physiology (MeSH) ; Longitudinal Studies (MeSH) ; Low Socioeconomic Status (MeSH) ; Aged, 80 and over (MeSH) ; Socioeconomic Disparities in Health (MeSH) ; Alzheimer's disease ; cognitive decline ; disparities ; mild cognitive impairment ; social deprivation ; socioeconomic ; subjective cognitive impairment

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease Research (AG Jessen)
2. Psychosocial Epidemiology and Public Health (AG Rodriguez)
3. Neuropsychology (AG Wagner)
4. Translational Health Care Research (AG Hoffmann)
5. Biomarker-Assisted Early Detection of Dementias (AG Peters)
6. Translational Neuropsychiatry (AG Priller)
7. Interdisciplinary Dementia Research (AG Endres)
8. Translational Dementia Research (Bonn) (AG Schneider)
9. Patient Studies (Bonn) (Patient Studies (Bonn))
10. Clinical Neurophysiology and Memory (AG Düzel)
11. Clinical Research (Munich) (Clinical Research (Munich))
12. Clinical Dementia Research (Rostock /Greifswald) (AG Teipel)
13. Parkinson Genetics (AG Gasser)
14. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (AG Spottke)
15. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (Clinical Research Platform (CRP))
16. Molecular Neurobiology (AG Simons)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)
2. 351 - Brain Function (POF4-351) (POF4-351)

Experiment(s):

1. Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study

---

Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---