Older adults living in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food are experiencing faster cognitive decline, according to a new study led by University of Iowa researcher Boeun Kim. The research highlights how structural inequities in food access are contributing to health disparities, particularly among Black and Latinx seniors.
The study analyzed data from nearly 4,800 adults aged 65 and older across urban neighborhoods in the U.S. It found that those living in areas with both low income and poor access to healthy food—defined as “unhealthy food environments”—showed significantly faster declines in brain function. These findings held even after adjusting for individual factors like income, education, and race.
“The food environment is a key social determinant of health, but it is often overlooked in research on cognitive aging,” Kim said. She emphasized that older adults often face mobility, social, and financial barriers that limit their ability to access nutritious food.
The study also revealed that Black and Latinx older adults were more likely to live in these disadvantaged neighborhoods. Kim pointed to the lasting effects of redlining, disinvestment, and other structural inequities as contributing factors. “These results contribute to the literature by suggesting that the food environment is a structural risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline among older adults living in urban areas,” the authors wrote. The findings underscore the need for policies that address food insecurity and neighborhood poverty to support brain health in aging populations.
See: “UI researcher finds food access, poverty may cause faster cognitive decline in older adults” (June 9, 2025)
