Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage Impacts Multiple Measures of Brain Health: An Imaging Epidemiology Study

In 2,826 adults (mean age, 53 years ± 19; 1,732 women), residence in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (national: 116/2,826, 4%; state: 129/2826, 5%) was associated with higher brain age gap at the national (β = 2.12, 95% CI = 0.81 to 3.43, <i>P</i> = .001) and state levels (β = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.10 to 3.61, <i>P</i> < .001). Total brain tissue volume was lower at the national (β = -5.12, 95% CI = -10.13 to -0.11, <i>P</i> = .045) and state levels (β = -6.13, 95% CI = -10.90 to -1.37, <i>P</i> = .011). White matter hyperintensity volume was higher in the most disadvantaged group (national: <i>P</i> = .013; state: <i>P</i> = .003) and demonstrated amplified associations with caudate, nucleus accumbens, and lateral prefrontal cortex volumes in the most disadvantaged group at the national and/or state levels ( <i>P</i> s < .05).