Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Previous studies explored neighborhood quality and food security separately concerning cognitive function in older adults.
• Limited research has investigated the combined influence of neighborhood quality and food security on cognitive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the cross-sectional association between neighborhood quality, food security, and cognitive function.
• To understand how these factors interact to affect cognition in diverse older adults.

Main Methods:

• 220 diverse older adults from the HANDLSleep study participated.
• Neighborhood quality assessed via Area Deprivation Index and self-reports (physical disorder, social cohesion, social control).
• Food security assessed via a single-item measure; cognitive function via a neuropsychological battery. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• Food security was linked to better visuospatial skills.
• Interactions revealed high food security associated with faster executive function and processing speed in less disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• High food security correlated with better global cognitive status in areas with less physical disorder and better visuospatial skills in neighborhoods with higher social cohesion.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the critical role of examining combined neighborhood quality and food security effects on cognitive function.
• Interventions addressing both environmental and nutritional factors may support cognitive health in aging populations.