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Loneliness Moderates the Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults
Regina Sims Wright, Desirée C. Bygrave, Alexa C. Allan, Alyssa A Gamaldo. Delaware Journal of Public Health, 2026-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Results showed that higher state and national ADI scores (more disadvantage) were associated with worse short-term visuospatial memory. Loneliness moderated the relationship between national ADI scores and short-term visuospatial memory. Overall, our findings suggest that older adults living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods in and surrounding New Castle County, De may be susceptible to poor visuospatial memory performance, and the relationship may vary based on low or high self-reported loneliness. Policy Our findings suggest a need to increase exploration of the role of neighborhood factors in older adult cognitive functioning. Health policies focused on ameliorating individual-level risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and decline may need to be expanded to target neighborhood-level factors and the intersection of neighborhood, loneliness, and social ties.
Key findings
- Results showed that higher state and national ADI scores (more disadvantage) were associated with worse short-term visuospatial memory.
- Loneliness moderated the relationship between national ADI scores and short-term visuospatial memory.
- Overall, our findings suggest that older adults living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods in and surrounding New Castle County, De may be susceptible to poor visuospatial memory performance, and the relationship may vary based on low or high self-reported loneliness.
- Policy Our findings suggest a need to increase exploration of the role of neighborhood factors in older adult cognitive functioning.
- Health policies focused on ameliorating individual-level risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and decline may need to be expanded to target neighborhood-level factors and the intersection of neighborhood, loneliness, and social ties.
Why it matters
In older adults around New Castle County, Delaware, greater neighborhood disadvantage was linked to worse short-term visuospatial memory. Loneliness changed the strength of the link between national disadvantage scores and this memory measure.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants136
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Delaware Journal of Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Delaware Journal of Public Health: journal h-index 22 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 136 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Alyssa A Gamaldo: h-index 25 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Pennsylvania State University: institution h-index 1,397 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42544253) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.32481/djph.2026.07.12
- PubMed: 42544253
- Original source →
- Free full text: Delaware Journal of Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wright, R. S., Bygrave, D. C., Allan, A. C., & Gamaldo, A. A. (2026). Loneliness Moderates the Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults. Delaware Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2026.07.12
Vancouver
Wright RS, Bygrave DC, Allan AC, Gamaldo AA. Loneliness Moderates the Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults. Delaware Journal of Public Health. 2026. doi:10.32481/djph.2026.07.12. PMID: 42544253.
BibTeX
@article{wright2026-42544253,
author = {Wright, Regina Sims and Bygrave, Desirée C. and Allan, Alexa C. and Gamaldo, Alyssa A},
title = {{Loneliness Moderates the Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults}},
journal = {Delaware Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.32481/djph.2026.07.12},
pmid = {42544253},
url = {https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2026.07.12}
}
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