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In the past few decades, scientists have been working hard to slowly chip away at what actually causes dementia<\/a> in the hopes of finding better treatments and prevention tools<\/a>. We now know that getting good sleep<\/a>, enough exercise<\/a>, and drinking less<\/a> are key. But a lot of risk factors are still a total mystery. Recently, scientists uncovered a new one, and it\u2019s probably not one that’s on your radar.<\/p>\n As it turns out, where you live can actually influence how likely you are to develop dementia, according to a study published in the journal Neurology<\/a>. Yep, your neighborhood plays a bigger role in your disease risk than people thought. But suddenly moving houses isn\u2019t an option for most people, so, what can you do about it? Neurologists break down the findings and explain what they mean for you.<\/p>\n Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO<\/a>, a neurologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS<\/a>, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University<\/p>\n What did the study find?<\/p>\n For the study, researchers analyzed data from 6,781 people with an average age of 72 who lived in four different communities in Chicago. The participants were given tests for thinking and memory skills at the beginning of the study, as well as every three years for at least six years. During the study, 2,534 people were also evaluated for dementia.<\/p>\n The researchers took that information and compared it to U.S. Census data to look at how disadvantaged each neighborhood was.<\/p>\n At the end of the study, 11 percent of people who lived in the least disadvantaged neighborhoods developed Alzheimer\u2019s disease, while 22 percent of people in the most disadvantaged neighborhood received a diagnosis. In the neighborhoods in-between these two, the rates increased with the level of disadvantage.<\/p>\n After adjusting for a slew of factors that can influence dementia risk, like age, sex, and education level, the researchers discovered that people in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were more than twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those who lived in nicer areas.<\/p>\n More On Dementia Risk Factors<\/p>\n Why is dementia risk linked with certain types of neighborhoods?<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to point out that the study simply found an association between where you live and a higher dementia risk. So that means it didn\u2019t prove that living in certain neighborhoods causes dementia\u2014just that there\u2019s a link.<\/p>\n However, \u201czip code is a major determinant of overall health,\u201d says Amit Sachdev, MD,<\/a> medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. It specifically falls under something known as a \u201csocial determinant of health<\/a>,\u201d which is a non-medical factor that influences a person\u2019s health and well-being.<\/p>\n People who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods tend to have a greater risk of developing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, and those are also risk factors for dementia, points out Clifford Segil, DO<\/a>, a neurologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.<\/p>\n What else raises your dementia risk?<\/p>\n