Community infrastructure to support seniors' mobility can play a role in offsetting memory loss

Subjective memory problems can be present in people as many as 20 years prior to a diagnosis of dementia. Wallace et al. studied just over 2,600 cognitively normal seniors (65 and over) who were among the panel of participants in the baseline and first three follow-up waves of Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE), United States, 1999-2019 (ICPSR 38821). A randomized, controlled trial, ACTIVE’s purpose was to test the effectiveness of cognitive interventions in maintaining cognitive health and functional independence in older adults. Wallace et al. were able to determine that participants with more life space mobility and better neighborhood infrastructure had better subjective memory at baseline and three years later. This was partially accounted for by having fewer depressive symptoms. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of having access to viable physical environments in which to be mobile, to support cognitive health as we age.