Associations of Neighborhood Walkability and Walking Behaviors by Cognitive Trajectory in Older Adults

Lawton's Ecological Model of Aging suggests that associations between environment and mobility differ based on individual factors such as cognitive decline.

Virtual walkability audits were conducted within 1/8 mile of residences of older adults (n = 545; average age = 82; 57% female; 33% Black) who had been enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) cohort for 10 years. The primary outcome was self-reported walking in past week and the secondary was mobility disability, self-reported difficulty to walk ¼ mile. Linear mixed models of general cognitive function over the prior 10 years calculated participant-specific slopes; those below 0 were cognitive decliners. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographics and neighborhood socioeconomic status, tested associations between each walkability variable and each mobility outcome. Interaction terms between walkability and cognitive status were tested and walkability analyses stratified on cognitive status where p for interaction < .2.

In the sample, 57.4% reported walking, 24.2% reported mobility disability, and 51% were cognitive decliners. Sidewalk quality was related to walking in cognitive maintainers; slope was related in decliners. Mixed land use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12, 2.30) and senior residence (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.27, 3.60) were related to greater walking, regardless of cognitive status. Mixed land use was related to less mobility disability in decliners and abandoned properties were related to greater mobility disability in maintainers.

Policy-level interventions targeted at walkability, including improved sidewalk quality and increasing mixed land use could support walking in older adults, regardless of cognitive status.