Risk Factors Associated with Neurocognitive Disorder and Depression Among Adults from an Urban-Marginalized Area of Lima, Peru - European Medical Journal

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Risk Factors Associated with Neurocognitive Disorder and Depression Among Adults from an Urban-Marginalized Area of Lima, Peru

1 Mins
Neurology
Authors:
* Monica M. Diaz , 1 Eder Herrera-Perez , 2,3 Nilton Custodio , 4,5 Rosa Montesinos , 4 Chhitij Tiwari , 1 Serggio C. Lanata 6
  • 1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
  • 2. University of California, San Francisco, USA
  • 3. Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
  • 4. Centro de Excelencia en Biotecnología e Investigación Traslacional (CEBIT LATAM), Lima, Peru
  • 5. Unidad de Investigación, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Peru
  • 6. Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Lima, Peru
*Correspondence to [email protected]
Disclosure:

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation:
Neurol AMJ. ;2[1]:44-45. https://doi.org/10.33590/neurolamj/BHYM3864.
Keywords:
Depression, neurocognitive disorders, socioeconomic, urban-marginalized.

Each article is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 License.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of neurocognitive disorders (NCD) and depression among community-dwelling younger and older adults in Puente Piedra, an urban-marginalized district of Lima, Peru.1

NCDs and depression pose substantial public health challenges, particularly in urban-marginalized areas of low-to-middle-income countries, where socioeconomic disparities amplify mental health concerns. The risk factors for NCDs among both younger and older adults in urban-marginalized areas of Latin America have been inadequately studied.

METHODS

A population-based study was conducted from July–September 2022, incorporating door-to-door visits and structured questionnaires to collect demographic, health, and socioeconomic data from 900 community-dwelling adults aged 30 years and older. Neurocognitive assessments included the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination for younger adults, Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale for older adults, and Patient Health Questionnaire for depression screening.

RESULTS

The authors found that 75.6% of participants were cognitively normal, 20.1% had possible NCDs without functional impairment, and 4.2% had possible NCDs with functional impairment. Additionally, 40% had depression. After controlling for covariates, lower educational levels and lower socioeconomic levels were risk factors for NCDs among older adults. Among younger adults, lower educational levels, a native language other than Spanish, hypertension, and depression were risk factors for NCDs. Risk factors for depression included female sex, lower educational level, a native language other than Spanish, overcrowding in the home, and a history of chronic diseases.

CONCLUSION

The results highlight that potentially modifiable risk factors, such as hypertension, educational level, and depression, may play a role in NCDs among residents of an urban-marginalized area of Peru. These findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions and policies to address mental health and healthcare disparities in urban-marginalized areas of low-to-middle-income countries.

References
Diaz M et al. Risk factors associated with neurocognitive disorder and depression among adults from an urban-marginalized area of Lima, Peru. Abstract S24.007. AAN Annual Meeting, April 5-9, 2025

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