The Mediating Role of Lifestyle Activities in the Association Between Social Deprivation and Cognition in Older Adulthood: Results From the Health and Retirement (HRS) Study

We aimed to investigate the mediating role of lifestyle activities in the association between social deprivation and cognition. To investigate, we analysed data of 3867 respondents (Mean Age: 73.37, SD: 5.57) in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) using growth curve and path analysis, adjusted for demographic and health covariates. Being in the high (vs. moderate) Social Deprivation Index group was associated with lower cognition scores (β = -2.63, [95 % CI: -2.90, -2.36]). Conversely, higher (vs. lower) Lifestyle Index scores were associated with higher cognition scores (β = 1.17, [95 % CI: 0.72, 1.63]). In mediation analysis, the Lifestyle Index score explained 27 % of the association of So Dep Index group on cognition at the final follow-up. While lifestyle activities did mediate the association between social deprivation and cognition, factors not investigated accounted for the majority of the variation. These may include systemic disadvantages.