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Neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black American men living in urban areas
Joshua Egwuonwu, Darlingtina K. Esiaka. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2023-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Background The impact of the residential neighborhood on health and aging is being increasingly recognized in medical and health sciences. Specifically, research suggests that the neighborhood where people live can be a risk or protective factor for various health outcomes, including brain health. Similar to the impact of neighborhood on health and aging, sleep has been linked to subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older adults, which may signal a cognitive trajectory to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). This study aims to evaluate whether neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black men living in urban areas and, thus, may be related to elevated risks for ADRD. Method Black American men (N = 117), age 40 – 70 years, were recruited through a targeted advert on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTURK) over a 3‐week period. The participants responded to a survey assessing neighborhood problems, bodily symptoms, length of residence, sleep difficulties, self‐rated health, sociodemographic characteristics, and subjective cognitive decline. Result We performed hierarchical regression. In Model 1, only education was a significant predictor of SCD (F (3,113) = 8.52, p<.001), accounting for 18% of the variation in SCD. In Model 2, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors of SCD (F (5,111) = 13.99, p<.001) and explained 39% of the variation in SCD. In Model 3, neighborhood problems, length of residence added, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors and contributed 44% of the total variance in SCD (F (7,109) = 12.10, p<.001). In Model 4, sleep difficulties, length of residence, bodily symptoms, socioeconomic status, and education were significant predictors of SCD (F (9,107) = 13.59, p<.001), and accounted for 50% of the variation in SCD. Conclusion Given that Black Americans have been found to have a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances compared to white Americans, our findings could add to inform future health interventions and policy recommendations that can address modifiable sources of poorer brain health in Black men.
Key findings
- Specifically, research suggests that the neighborhood where people live can be a risk or protective factor for various health outcomes, including brain health.
- Result We performed hierarchical regression.
- In Model 1, only education was a significant predictor of SCD (F (3,113) = 8.52, p<.001), accounting for 18% of the variation in SCD.
- In Model 2, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors of SCD (F (5,111) = 13.99, p<.001) and explained 39% of the variation in SCD.
- In Model 3, neighborhood problems, length of residence added, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors and contributed 44% of the total variance in SCD (F (7,109) = 12.10, p<.001).
Why it matters
In a small survey of 117 Black American men aged 40-70 in urban areas, education, socioeconomic status, and bodily symptoms predicted subjective cognitive decline, which may signal a path toward Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Because this is a small survey, it cannot show cause and effect or whether any intervention would reduce risk.
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Study details
- Participants117
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 117 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.4 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.4× 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 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Darlingtina K. Esiaka: h-index 9 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: institution h-index 1,147 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 33 / 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
Egwuonwu, J., & Esiaka, D. K. (2023). Neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black American men living in urban areas. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.080303
Vancouver
Egwuonwu J, Esiaka DK. Neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black American men living in urban areas. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2023. doi:10.1002/alz.080303.
BibTeX
@article{egwuonwu2023-a9305c97,
author = {Egwuonwu, Joshua and Esiaka, Darlingtina K.},
title = {{Neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black American men living in urban areas}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1002/alz.080303},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.080303}
}
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