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Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function: The Moderating Role of Self-reported Loneliness
Regina Sims Wright, Desirée C. Bygrave. Innovation in Aging, 2025-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Neighborhood disadvantage has been linked to worse cognitive performance and greater cognitive decline among older adults; however, moderators of these associations have not been well studied. Loneliness is a potential moderator of importance—one that also worsens cognitive functioning. Given the documented influence of neighborhood disadvantage and loneliness on cognitive functioning, it is important to understand whether self-reported loneliness exacerbates this relationship. Therefore, the objective of the study was to examine associations between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive function, and to examine whether associations are moderated by self-reported loneliness. The analysis included 136 older adults (36% male) with a mean age of 68.04y. Neighborhood disadvantage was assessed with the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), that provided state and national rankings of neighborhood deprivation. Cognitive function was assessed with the Verbal Fluency Test (verbal fluency), the Visual Reproductions Test (short- and long-term nonverbal memory), Logical Memory Test (verbal memory) and Digit Span Forward and Backward (working memory). Self-reported loneliness was measured with the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Multivariable regression analyses were run, adjusted for age, sex, and educational attainment. Results showed that greater national ADI rankings (more disadvantage) were associated with worse short-term nonverbal memory. Similarly, greater state and national ADI rankings were associated with worse long-term nonverbal memory. Additional results showed that loneliness moderated the relationship between national ADI rankings and both types of nonverbal memory. Overall, our findings suggest that greater neighborhood disadvantage may influence select domains of memory, and that one’s self-reported loneliness may influence how this relationship manifests.
Key findings
- Results showed that greater national ADI rankings (more disadvantage) were associated with worse short-term nonverbal memory.
- Similarly, greater state and national ADI rankings were associated with worse long-term nonverbal memory.
- Additional results showed that loneliness moderated the relationship between national ADI rankings and both types of nonverbal memory.
- Overall, our findings suggest that greater neighborhood disadvantage may influence select domains of memory, and that one’s self-reported loneliness may influence how this relationship manifests.
Why it matters
In 136 older adults, greater neighborhood disadvantage was linked to worse short-term and long-term nonverbal memory. Loneliness changed the strength of the link between national neighborhood disadvantage and both types of nonverbal memory.
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Study details
- Participants136
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Innovation in Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Innovation in Aging: journal h-index 48 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| 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 | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Desirée C. Bygrave: h-index 3 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Delaware: institution h-index 738 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
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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. (2025). Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function: The Moderating Role of Self-reported Loneliness. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3290
Vancouver
Wright RS, Bygrave DC. Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function: The Moderating Role of Self-reported Loneliness. Innovation in Aging. 2025. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3290.
BibTeX
@article{wright2025-0a50155e,
author = {Wright, Regina Sims and Bygrave, Desirée C.},
title = {{Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cognitive Function: The Moderating Role of Self-reported Loneliness}},
journal = {Innovation in Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3290},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3290}
}
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