Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have collaborated with international partners to explore if societal inequality affects the brain. Their research paper "Structural inequality linked to brain volume and network dynamics in aging and dementia across the Americas" was published in Nature Aging on December 27th by an international team of researchers from the Multipartner Consortium to expand dementia research in Latin America (ReDLat), the Latin American Brain Health Institute ( BrainLat ), the GIobal Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at Trinity College Dublin, and other centers across the globe. The study reveals a direct link between structural inequality—such as socioeconomic disparities measured by a country-level index (GINI)—and changes in brain structure and connectivity associated with aging and dementia.
The study also sheds light on how societal inequities become biologically embedded, particularly in underrepresented populations across Latin America and the United States. Researchers found that higher levels of inequality are linked to reduced brain volume and disrupted connectivity, especially in temporo-posterior and cerebellar regions essential for memory and cognitive function. These effects were more pronounced in Latin America, highlighting the unique vulnerability of Latin American populations to macro-level socioeconomic stressors .
The findings also revealed that Latinos with Alzheimer's disease experience the most severe impacts, suggesting that envi.
