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Social disadvantage outweighs knowledge in dementia risk
Sandra Báez, Sebastian Rodriguez Marquez, Anna Marie Rosická, Claire M. Gillan. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2026-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Lower SES and education were the strongest predictors of increased behavioral risk. Health-related risk was associated only with SES. AD knowledge accuracy and confidence were not significantly associated with either index. Machine learning confirmed these patterns, with SES and education emerging as key features. Low SES and education were more strongly linked to dementia risk than AD knowledge. Findings underscore the need for equity-focused strategies beyond public awareness campaigns to improve knowledge.
Key findings
- Lower SES and education were the strongest predictors of increased behavioral risk.
- Health-related risk was associated only with SES.
- AD knowledge accuracy and confidence were not significantly associated with either index.
- Machine learning confirmed these patterns, with SES and education emerging as key features.
- Low SES and education were more strongly linked to dementia risk than AD knowledge.
Why it matters
Lower socioeconomic status and education were more strongly linked to dementia risk than knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, and knowledge accuracy and confidence were not significantly associated with risk. This suggests that improving public awareness alone may not reduce risk, and equity-focused strategies are needed.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants1,730
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 3 / 4 | 1,730 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 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.0× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Claire M. Gillan: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Trinity College Dublin: institution h-index 926 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41748496) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Báez, S., Marquez, S. R., Rosická, A. M., & Gillan, C. M. (2026). Social disadvantage outweighs knowledge in dementia risk. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71260
Vancouver
Báez S, Marquez SR, Rosická AM, Gillan CM. Social disadvantage outweighs knowledge in dementia risk. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2026. doi:10.1002/alz.71260. PMID: 41748496.
BibTeX
@article{baez2026-41748496,
author = {Báez, Sandra and Marquez, Sebastian Rodriguez and Rosická, Anna Marie and Gillan, Claire M.},
title = {{Social disadvantage outweighs knowledge in dementia risk}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/alz.71260},
pmid = {41748496},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71260}
}
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