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Biological mechanisms underlying the link between social adversity and cognition: A scoping review

Liang, A.; Watt, E.; Gomaa, N.

2025-05-15 public and global health
10.1101/2025.05.14.25327640 medRxiv
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BackgroundVarious studies have shown that social adversity, such as loneliness or low SES, are linked with worse cognitive outcomes, though underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. This scoping review aims to summarize existing evidence on biological processes that may underline this association. MethodsFollowing PRISMA-ScR guidelines, studies measuring social adversity, cognition, and at least one biological mechanism were included. Results were summarized narratively and in tabular formats. ResultsThirteen studies examined links between social adversity, cognition, and biological mechanisms. Inflammation, allostatic load, genetics and genetic aging markers were identified as potential mediators. ConclusionSeveral studies suggest that these biological mechanisms may mediate the link between social adversity and cognitive decline. However, further research is needed to clarify these complex relationships, which are crucial for developing targeted interventions, especially for socially disadvantaged populations.

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