Universität zu Köln

Zimmermann, Jaroslava ORCID: 0000-0003-1202-2103, Hülür, Gizem ORCID: 0000-0002-9225-3878 and Schafer, Markus (2025). Does physical and social neighborhood environment matter for two-year changes in functional abilities and cognitive function in the oldest old? The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 80 (12). pp. 1-11. Oxford University Press. ISSN 1079-5014

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: gbaf182] Objectives: While favorable physical neighborhood environments have been shown to benefit functional abilities (FA) and cognitive function (CF) in older adults, evidence on social aspects remains inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the role of both physical (quality, infrastructure, walkability) and social (place attachment, social cohesion) neighborhood characteristics for levels/changes in FA and CF among the oldest old, who were often underrepresented in previous research. Additionally, we examined whether place attachment and social cohesion mediate the associations between physical neighborhood characteristics and FA and CF outcomes. Methods: We used data from the population-based NRW80+ survey, including two waves collected in 2017–2018 and 2019–2020. NRW80+ included the population aged 80 years or older with primary residence in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). Based on the structural equation framework, we estimated latent difference score models to examine levels/changes in FA (n = 840) and CF (n = 797) and to test mediation effects. Results: Higher walkability was related to better baseline FA, and an improvement in walkability ratings was associated with less FA decline. Neighborhood quality and infrastructure were not related to FA or CF. Higher social cohesion was associated with less CF decline. No mediation effects through place attachment and social cohesion were identified. Discussion: Our findings indicate that walkable neighborhood environments may help maintain FA, while socially cohesive neighborhoods may buffer against CF decline in the oldest old. The absence of mediation effects suggests that physical and social aspects of the neighborhood may influence FA and CF through independent pathways.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Zimmermann, Jaroslava UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-2103 UNSPECIFIED Hülür, Gizem UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9225-3878 UNSPECIFIED Schafer, Markus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-811398
Identification Number:	10.1093/geronb/gbaf182
Journal or Publication Title:	The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume:	80
Number:	12
Page Range:	pp. 1-11
Number of Pages:	11
Date:	December 2025
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	1079-5014
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	CERES - Cologne Center for Ethics, Rights, Economics, and Social Sciences of Health
Subjects:	Social sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Activities of daily living ; Cognition ; Living conditions ; Longitudinal change ; Very old age English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/81139