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Association Between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Use and Memory Decline: Findings From the Health and
Peiyi Lu1, Katrina Kezios2, Jongseong Lee2
1From the Departments of Epidemiology (P.L., K.K., A.Z.A.H.) and Health Policy and Management (S.C.), Mailman School of Public Health, School of Social Work (J.L., C.W.), and Center on Poverty and Social Policy (J.L., C.W.), Columbia University, New York, NY. az2567@cumc.columbia.edu.
Neurology
|November 9, 2022
Summary
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use was linked to slower memory decline in older adults. This suggests potential cognitive benefits of SNAP for aging populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cognitive health decline in older adults is a growing public health concern.
- Research on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) impact on cognitive function is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between SNAP participation and memory decline in U.S. older adults eligible for the program.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2016) for SNAP-eligible participants aged 50+.
- Employed inverse probability weighting and propensity score matching to control for baseline differences and attrition.
- Assessed memory function using a biennial composite score.
Main Results:
- SNAP users exhibited slower rates of memory decline compared to nonusers.
- Analysis indicated SNAP users experienced approximately 2 fewer years of cognitive aging over a decade.
- SNAP users had worse baseline memory but a slower decline trajectory.
Conclusions:
- SNAP use is associated with a slower rate of memory decline in older adults.
- Findings suggest a potential protective effect of SNAP on cognitive aging.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms behind this association.
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