Life-course neighbourhood deprivation and brain structure in older adults: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

Neighbourhood disadvantage may be associated with brain health but the importance at different stages of the life course is poorly understood. Utilizing the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, we explored the relationship between residential neighbourhood deprivation from birth to late adulthood, and global and regional neuroimaging measures at age 73. We found that residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in mid- to late adulthood was associated with smaller total brain ( β =-0.06; SE=0.02; n =390) and grey matter volume ( β =-0.11; SE=0.03; n =390), thinner cortex ( β =-0.15; SE=0.06; n =379), and lower general white matter fractional anisotropy ( β =-0.19; SE=0.06; n =388). Regional analysis identified affected focal cortical areas and specific white matter tracts. Among individuals belonging to lower occupational social classes, the brain-neighbourhood associations were stronger, with the impact of neighbourhood deprivation accumulating across the life course. Our findings suggest that living in deprived neighbourhoods is associated with adverse brain morphologies, with occupational social class adding to the vulnerability. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, UK (ESRC; grant award ES/T003669/1). The LBC1936 study is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the ESRC (BB/W008793/1), Age UK (Disconnected Mind project), the US National Institutes of Health (R01AG054628, which supports IJD), and the University of Edinburgh. SRC was supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (221890/Z/20/Z); ELSC was supported by the Wellcome Trust (108890/Z/15/Z). The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study acknowledges the financial support of NHS Research Scotland (NRS), through Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the LBC1936 participants and members of the LBC1936 research team who collect and manage the LBC data. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The LBC1936 study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines with ethical permission obtained from the Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee for Scotland (MREC/01/0/56), Lothian Research Ethics Committee (Wave 1, LREC/2003/2/29), and the Scotland A Research Ethics Committee (Waves 2-4, 07/MRE00/58). Written consent was obtained from all participants. 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Yes The LBCs’ study data have been the subject of many internal (within the University of Edinburgh) and external collaborations, which are encouraged. Those who have interests in outcomes other than cognitive domains are particularly encouraged to collaborate. Both LBC studies have clear data dictionaries which help researchers to discern whether the variables they wish to use are present; these provide a simple short title for each variable, alongside a longer, common-sense description/provenance of each variable. This information is available on the study website () alongside comprehensive data grids listing all variables collected throughout both LBC studies and the wave at which they were introduced, an ‘LBC Data Request Form’ and example Data Transfer Agreement. Initially, the Data Request Form is e-mailed to the Lothian Birth Cohorts Director Dr Simon R. Cox for approval (via a panel comprising study co-investigators). Instances where approved projects require transfer of data or materials outside the University of Edinburgh require a formal Data Transfer Agreement or Material Transfer Agreement to be established with the host institution. The process is facilitated by a full-time LBC database manager – there is no charge. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.