Can Where You Live Leave a Mark on Your Brain?
Researchers analysing 2,826 brain MRI exams found that people living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods tended to have brains that appeared older, along with lower total brain volume.
The findings were published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.
What does it mean for a brain to look “older”?
The researchers studied adults between the ages of 18 and 96 who underwent clinical brain MRI exams at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics and community partners between January and June 2024.
One of the main measures was the “brain age gap,” which compares a person’s actual age with the age their brain appears to be based on MRI data.
A larger gap can indicate that the brain appears older than expected. Elevated brain age has previously been associated with cardiovascular risk factors, psychiatric illness and cognitive impairment.
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Neighbourhood conditions were linked to brain differences
Researchers also calculated an Area Deprivation Index, or ADI, score for each patient.
The index measures neighbourhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage using factors related to income, education, employment and housing.
People living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had a higher brain age gap and lower total brain volume than those in less disadvantaged areas.
“We found that residents in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had an accelerated brain age compared with people living in less deprived areas,” said study author Dr. John-Paul J. Yu.
“In other words, where you live leaves a measurable imprint on your brain.”
MRI scans showed another signal
Residents of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods also had higher levels of white matter hyper-intensities.
These bright areas on MRI scans are associated with damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Larger amounts have been linked with higher risks of memory problems, cognitive impairment and dementia.
Dr. Yu described them as “the footprints of cardiovascular damage in the brain.”
Factors such as high blood pressure, poor sleep and chronic stress can affect blood vessels and blood flow over time.
Why the findings matter
The study adds to growing research suggesting that brain health is shaped by more than individual behaviour or medical care.
Neighbourhood disadvantage can reflect long-term differences in housing, employment, education and access to resources.
The researchers say MRI measurements could help scientists and clinicians better understand how these broader conditions relate to neurological health and potentially identify communities that may benefit from improved access to care.
An important limitation
The study found an association, not proof that neighbourhood disadvantage directly causes changes in the brain.
Many social, environmental and biological factors can influence brain health, and the research was retrospective.
Even so, the findings offer another reason to look beyond the clinic when thinking about long-term neurological health. The places people live may leave measurable traces in the brain.
If you are interested in more details about the underlying research, check out the paper published in the journal Radiology titled: ''Evaluating the Effect of Neighborhood-level Disadvantage on Brain Health: An Imaging Epidemiology Study''