Individual and neighborhood socioeconomic inequality and the risk of dementia: A 14‐year follow‐up study

TL;DR

This study shows that both individual and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantages increase dementia risk, with the highest risk for those disadvantaged in both areas.

Contribution

The study reveals interactive effects of individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status on dementia risk and identifies biological mediators.

Findings

Low individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status are linked to higher dementia risk.

The combination of low ISES and NSES leads to the highest dementia risk.

Inflammatory markers and metabolites partially explain the association between SES and dementia.

Abstract

Socioeconomic inequality is a non‐negligible risk factor for dementia. However, complex associations of individual socioeconomic status (ISES) and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) with dementia risk have not been determined.

In 327,641 adults aged 40–69 years from the UK Biobank, we estimated the separate, interactive, and joint associations of ISES and NSES with the risk of dementia and explored the role of inflammatory markers and metabolites.

Low ISES and low NSES were associated with higher risks of all‐cause dementia and its subtypes. A stronger association between ISES and dementia was observed in those with low NSES. The subpopulation with disadvantages in both ISES and NSES showed the highest risk of dementia. Inflammatory markers (e.g., lymphocyte percentage) and metabolites (e.g., valine) mediated the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) profiles with all‐cause dementia.

These findings underscore the importance of eliminating socioeconomic inequality at both individual and neighborhood levels for preventing dementia.

Disadvantages in both individual socioeconomic status (ISES) and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) are associated with higher risks of dementia.There are significant interactions between ISES and NSES on dementia risk.The low SES subpopulation with disadvantages in both ISES and NSES has the highest risk of dementia.Inflammatory markers and metabolites partially mediate the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) profiles with all‐cause dementia.Narrowing socioeconomic inequality at both the individual and neighborhood levels may help prevent dementia.

Disadvantages in both individual socioeconomic status (ISES) and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) are associated with higher risks of dementia.

There are significant interactions between ISES and NSES on dementia risk.

The low SES subpopulation with disadvantages in both ISES and NSES has the highest risk of dementia.

Inflammatory markers and metabolites partially mediate the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) profiles with all‐cause dementia.

Narrowing socioeconomic inequality at both the individual and neighborhood levels may help prevent dementia.

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