Ann W Nguyen1, Harry Owen Taylor2, Karen D Lincoln3, Weidi Qin1, Tyrone Hamler1, Fei Wang1, Uchechi A Mitchell4. 1. Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 2. The Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. 3. Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. 4. School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research documents the adverse health effects of systemic inflammation. Overall, older Black Americans tend to have higher inflammation than older non-Hispanic White adults. Given that inflammation is related to a range of chronic health problems that disproportionately affect Blacks compared to Whites, this racial disparity in inflammation may contribute to racial disparities in particular chronic health problems. Thus, a better understanding of its determinants in the older Black population is of critical importance. This analysis examined the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation in a national sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans. An additional aim of this study was to determine whether hopelessness and pessimism moderate the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation. METHODS: A sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans aged 60+ were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1004). Neighborhood characteristics included neighborhood physical disadvantage and neighborhood social cohesion. Inflammation was assessed by C-reactive protein. RESULTS: The analyses indicated that neighborhood physical disadvantage and social cohesion were not associated with C-reactive protein. Hopelessness and pessimism moderated the association between neighborhood physical disadvantage and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding the role of hopelessness and pessimism as moderator in the neighborhood-inflammation association can inform cognitive-behavioral interventions targeted at changes in cognition patterns.
BACKGROUND: Research documents the adverse health effects of systemic inflammation. Overall, older Black Americans tend to have higher inflammation than older non-Hispanic White adults. Given that inflammation is related to a range of chronic health problems that disproportionately affect Blacks compared to Whites, this racial disparity in inflammation may contribute to racial disparities in particular chronic health problems. Thus, a better understanding of its determinants in the older Black population is of critical importance. This analysis examined the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation in a national sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans. An additional aim of this study was to determine whether hopelessness and pessimism moderate the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation. METHODS: A sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans aged 60+ were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1004). Neighborhood characteristics included neighborhood physical disadvantage and neighborhood social cohesion. Inflammation was assessed by C-reactive protein. RESULTS: The analyses indicated that neighborhood physical disadvantage and social cohesion were not associated with C-reactive protein. Hopelessness and pessimism moderated the association between neighborhood physical disadvantage and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding the role of hopelessness and pessimism as moderator in the neighborhood-inflammation association can inform cognitive-behavioral interventions targeted at changes in cognition patterns.
Authors: Vanessa L Neergheen; Matthew Topel; Miriam E Van Dyke; Samaah Sullivan; Priscilla E Pemu; Gary H Gibbons; Viola Vaccarino; Arshed A Quyyumi; Tené T Lewis Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2018-10-26 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Maarit Valtonen; David E Laaksonen; Tommi Tolmunen; Kristiina Nyyssönen; Heimo Viinamäki; Jussi Kauhanen; Leo Niskanen Journal: Scand J Public Health Date: 2008-11 Impact factor: 3.021
Authors: Akilah Dulin Keita; Suzanne E Judd; Virginia J Howard; April P Carson; Jamy D Ard; Jose R Fernandez Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-12-23 Impact factor: 3.295