The impact of community environment on cognitive function among the elderly and the medicating mechanism of social health
10.3969/j.issn.1674-2982.2025.05.007
- VernacularTitle:社区环境对老年人认知功能的影响及社会健康的中介机制研究
- Author:
Jun JIAO
1
;
Pan WANG
;
Hong HE
Author Information
1. 中国人民大学人口与健康学院 北京 100872
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Community environment;
Cognitive function;
Social isolation;
Loneliness;
Social participation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Health Policy
2025;18(5):42-49
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the impact of community environment on different dimensions of cognitive function among the elderly and to examine the mediating role of social health,providing empirical evidence for the construction of dementia-friendly communities.Methods:Based on data from 11 356 elderly individuals in the 2020 wave of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey,this study employed OLS and IV-2SLS regression models to estimate the effects of community environment on cognitive function,intellectual integrity,and memory.The mediating effects of social isolation,loneliness,and social participation were further tested,and group heterogeneity was explored.Results:Community environment significantly improved cognitive function and intellectual integrity among the elderly,while the effect on memory was not significant.Social isolation,loneliness,and social participation were found to mediate the relationship between community environment and cognitive function.The promoting effect of community environment on cognitive function was more pronounced among those with lower educational attainment,under 75 years of age,and living in rural areas.Conclusions:Improving the community environment can enhance cognitive function among the elderly.Efforts should focus on strengthening environmental cognitive stimulation and promoting social health to advance the construction of dementia-friendly communities and delay cognitive decline.
