Neighborhoods and Neurons: Study Finds Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Alzheimer’s Disease-related Brain Changes

A recent study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that people who lived in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes at autopsy than people who lived in the wealthiest neighborhoods. One of the authors joins the podcast to discuss the research findings, the methodology behind the study, and future research directions. Guest: Ryan Powell, PhD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Medicine   Episode Topics: What are social determinants of health? 1:30 What is the Area Deprivation Index? 3:28 What did your study investigate? 7:24 What did you learn from your study of brain autopsy results? 8:49 How do you think social factors interact with brain changes? 11:10 Why is access to Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers important? 13:35 What is the next step for your research? 16:44 As a society, how can we slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease? 20:33