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Testing the Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and White Matter Hyperintensities
Emily X. Merkel, Gilda E. Ennis, Robert V. Cadman, Rebecca L. Koscik, Yue Ma, Sanjay Asthana, Sterling C. Johnson, Amy Kind et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2022-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
CVD risk has been associated with white matter lesions known as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) because they produce increased signal on fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI scans. WMH have been associated with increased risk for stroke, cognitive decline, and dementia. We investigated whether greater neighborhood‐level disadvantage was associated with greater WMH volume. Result Four percent (n = 33) of participants were identified as living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (see Table 1). The association between neighborhood‐level disadvantage and log‐transformed WMH volume was not statistically significant (see Table 2 and Figure 1).
Key findings
- CVD risk has been associated with white matter lesions known as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) because they produce increased signal on fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI scans.
- WMH have been associated with increased risk for stroke, cognitive decline, and dementia.
- We investigated whether greater neighborhood‐level disadvantage was associated with greater WMH volume.
- Result Four percent (n = 33) of participants were identified as living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (see Table 1).
- The association between neighborhood‐level disadvantage and log‐transformed WMH volume was not statistically significant (see Table 2 and Figure 1).
Why it matters
This study found no statistically significant link between neighborhood disadvantage and white matter hyperintensities, which are brain changes linked to dementia risk. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants804
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 37/100
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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 804 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 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| 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 | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Barbara B. Bendlin: h-index 64 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Wisconsin–Madison: institution h-index 1,518 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 37 / 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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Merkel, E. X., Ennis, G. E., Cadman, R. V., Koscik, R. L., Ma, Y., Asthana, S., et al. (2022). Testing the Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and White Matter Hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.069324
Vancouver
Merkel EX, Ennis GE, Cadman RV, Koscik RL, Ma Y, Asthana S, et al. Testing the Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and White Matter Hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2022. doi:10.1002/alz.069324.
BibTeX
@article{merkel2022-a693eb78,
author = {Merkel, Emily X. and Ennis, Gilda E. and Cadman, Robert V. and Koscik, Rebecca L. and Ma, Yue and Asthana, Sanjay and Johnson, Sterling C. and Kind, Amy and others},
title = {{Testing the Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and White Matter Hyperintensities}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1002/alz.069324},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.069324}
}
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