TRENDS IN HOUSEHOLD MATERIAL RESOURCES AND COGNITIVE HEALTH IN A LONGITUDINAL COHORT STUDY OF AGING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Date
2022
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Abstract
Material resources that affect daily living conditions may
be salient for cognitive aging in low-income settings, but evidence is limited on this topic. We investigated relationships between long-term trends in household material resources and
subsequent cognitive function among 4,580 adults aged ≥40
in a population-representative cohort in Agincourt sub-district,
South Africa, from 2001-2015. Household material resources
(dwelling materials, water, sanitation, sources of power, modern
amenities, and livestock) were assessed biennially from 2001-
2013. We evaluated mean resources, volatility in resources, and
change in resources over this period in relation to cognitive
function in 2014/2015. Higher mean household resources and
larger improvements over time in resources were positively associated with subsequent cognitive function, independent of
confounders. Findings were largely driven by modern amenities for food preparation, transportation, and communication
outside of the household. Access to these amenities may support cognitive aging through boosting nutrition and cognitive
reserve and should be investigated further.