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34/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 34 out of 100. Risk factors

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Abstract Black older adults experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-Hispanic Whites, and CVD is a known risk factor for dementia. Black older adults are also more likely to reside in racially segregated neighborhoods with limited resources and access to healthcare, which may exacerbate the negative effects of CVD on cognition. The present study examined the interactive effects of CVD and segregation on memory trajectories and 10-year incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among 662 Black older adults enrolled in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study. Baseline residential segregation was assessed at tract and county levels using dissimilarity and interaction indices. Blood pressure measurements (systolic ¬– diastolic) were used to calculate pulse pressure as a proxy for CVD. Outcomes included memory composites for baseline, post-intervention, 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year follow-ups as well as 10-year incidence of MCI. Latent growth curve models, adjusted for demographic and health factors, revealed significant segregation x CVD interactions on average memory levels (Bs≥-.48, ps≤.02), but not rates of decline. In highly segregated counties, Black older adults with elevated CVD demonstrated worse memory than those with lower CVD; in less segregated counties, memory levels did not differ by CVD. Logistic regressions revealed a similar interactive effect on 10-year incidence of MCI (OR = 1.22, p=.04); in highly segregated counties, individuals with high CVD demonstrated higher odds of MCI compared to those with low CVD. Multi-domain interventions addressing CVD risk and structural inequality may reduce dementia disparities in Black older adults.

Key findings

Abstract Black older adults experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-Hispanic Whites, and CVD is a known risk factor for dementia.
Latent growth curve models, adjusted for demographic and health factors, revealed significant segregation x CVD interactions on average memory levels (Bs≥-.48, ps≤.02), but not rates of decline.
In highly segregated counties, Black older adults with elevated CVD demonstrated worse memory than those with lower CVD; in less segregated counties, memory levels did not differ by CVD.
Logistic regressions revealed a similar interactive effect on 10-year incidence of MCI (OR = 1.22, p=.04); in highly segregated counties, individuals with high CVD demonstrated higher odds of MCI compared to those with low CVD.

Why it matters

Among 662 Black older adults, those with higher cardiovascular disease measures living in highly segregated counties had worse average memory than those with lower cardiovascular disease. The study found no link between segregation and cardiovascular disease together and the rate of memory decline, so it cannot show that segregation causes memory loss.

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Study details

Effect sizeOR = 1.22
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 34/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people 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	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	3 / 3	Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
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	2 / 4	Last-listed author Kelsey R. Thomas: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 5 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	34 / 100	—

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Read the original

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. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

APA 7th

Clark, A. L., Chikkala, A., Hamlin, A. M., Bush, A., Tarraf, W., Weigand, A. J., et al. (2025). Residential segregation exacerbates the effects of cardiovascular disease on cognition in Black older adults. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3839

Vancouver

Clark AL, Chikkala A, Hamlin AM, Bush A, Tarraf W, Weigand AJ, et al. Residential segregation exacerbates the effects of cardiovascular disease on cognition in Black older adults. Innovation in Aging. 2025. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3839.

BibTeX

@article{clark2025-7a65cbd3,
  author  = {Clark, Alexandra L. and Chikkala, Ashley and Hamlin, Abbey M. and Bush, Adam and Tarraf, Wassim and Weigand, Alexandra J. and Marsiske, Michael and Thomas, Kelsey R.},
  title   = {{Residential segregation exacerbates the effects of cardiovascular disease on cognition in Black older adults}},
  journal = {Innovation in Aging},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3839},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3839}
}

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