Ph.D. student Kimberly Cobos (Clinical Psychology) along with collaborators, published a study in Frontiers titled, "Social support and cognition in a racially and ethnically diverse cohort: the role of neighborhood disadvantage."

The study examined how different types of social support relate to cognitive functioning among racially and ethnically diverse adults aged 50 and older, and whether neighborhood disadvantage influences these relationships. Using data from the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD), researchers examined tangible, emotional, and companionship support among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White participants. Findings revealed that tangible support, such as practical assistance with everyday needs, was positively associated with cognitive functioning across all three groups, while emotional support was also positively associated with cognition among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants. Although neighborhood disadvantage did not significantly moderate these relationships, exploratory analyses found that associations between social support and cognition were more consistently observed in less disadvantaged neighborhoods, with no significant associations identified in the most disadvantaged areas. The findings highlight the importance of social support for cognitive health across diverse populations and underscore the need for further research examining how neighborhood conditions and social resources may contribute to cognitive health disparities.