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Social determinants of dementia: A scoping review
Sebastian Walsh, Matthias Klee, Esther K. Hui, Usman A. Saeed, Sheena Waters, Isla L. Kuhn, Joyce Siette, Vasiliki Orgeta et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Dementia risk is influenced by the social conditions in which people live. These social determinants of dementia (SDOD) are potential targets for prevention. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review to identify current evidence on SDOD in two stages: (1) review of systematic reviews on SDOD; and (2) review of primary literature to address identified gaps in the evidence base. Of the 3445 articles screened, 26 reviews and 74 primary studies were included. Evidence from reviews provide clear and consistent patterns for some SDOD (e.g., education, air pollution, socioeconomic status, ethnicity), while evidence for others is still emerging (e.g., housing quality/stability), or lacking entirely (e.g., incarceration). SDOD are important over the life course. Additional evidence is needed for understudied domains and to unravel the complex interactions between determinants, whilst education and air pollution stand out as key targets for public health interventions. HIGHLIGHTS: There is clear and consistent evidence for some social determinants of dementia (SDOD) across diverse domains. Evidence for other SDOD (e.g., housing, incarceration) is still emerging or lacking. Evidence for SDOD comes mainly from high-income countries. The complex intercorrelations between SDODs demand a nuanced analytical approach. Standardized measures and longer follow-up to study SDOD are recommended.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Walsh, S., Klee, M., Hui, E. K., Saeed, U. A., Waters, S., Kuhn, I. L., et al. (2025). Social determinants of dementia: A scoping review. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70524
Vancouver
Walsh S, Klee M, Hui EK, Saeed UA, Waters S, Kuhn IL, et al. Social determinants of dementia: A scoping review. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70524. PMID: 40717690.
BibTeX
@article{walsh2025-40717690,
author = {Walsh, Sebastian and Klee, Matthias and Hui, Esther K. and Saeed, Usman A. and Waters, Sheena and Kuhn, Isla L. and Siette, Joyce and Orgeta, Vasiliki and others},
title = {{Social determinants of dementia: A scoping review}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70524},
pmid = {40717690},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70524}
}
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Key findings
- HIGHLIGHTS: There is clear and consistent evidence for some social determinants of dementia (SDOD) across diverse domains.
- Evidence for other SDOD (e.g., housing, incarceration) is still emerging or lacking.
- Evidence for SDOD comes mainly from high-income countries.
- The complex intercorrelations between SDODs demand a nuanced analytical approach.
- Standardized measures and longer follow-up to study SDOD are recommended.
Why it matters
This scoping review found clear evidence for some social determinants of dementia, such as education and air pollution, while evidence for others like housing and incarceration is still emerging or lacking. It suggests that education and air pollution are key targets for public health interventions, but it does not test whether changing these factors prevents dementia.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, 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 (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 | 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 | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 22 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Anouk F.J. Geraets: h-index 12 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 16 institution(s) in 7 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40717690) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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