By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-02 08:22:08 | Updated at 2026-10-02 09:16:13
56 minutes ago
Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood may be linked to poorer brain health; researchers found higher brain age, smaller total brain volume, and more signs of vascular damage in people living in the most disadvantaged areas, Euronews reported on September 20.
Where people live can leave a measurable mark on their brains, according to a new study published in the journal *Radiology*, a publication of the Radiological Society of North America.
Researchers analyzed nearly 3,000 brain MRI scans from patients aged 18 to 96. They compared brain metrics with scores from the Area Deprivation Index (ADI)—a neighborhood-level indicator of socioeconomic disadvantage based on factors such as income, education, employment, and housing conditions. The index describes conditions in a specific location rather than the circumstances of an individual resident.
People living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods exhibited higher “brain age” and smaller total brain volume compared to those living in less disadvantaged areas.
The findings support evidence that the conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age can determine long-term neurological health. Researchers also found a higher number of white matter hyperintensities—bright spots visible on MRI scans that are associated with damage to small blood vessels in the brain—among people living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
A greater volume of white matter hyperintensities is linked to an increased risk of memory loss, cognitive problems, and dementia.
Illustrative photo: pexels-tomfisk-7234977
