Older people living in disadvantaged areas of Ireland are much more likely to have poor mental health, a new study has found.

The results are based on an analysis of data collected as part of the TUDA Ageing study - a study involving over 5,000 older people living in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

The researchers acknowledged that cognitive functioning generally decreases as people age. However, they found that older people living in disadvantaged areas had a greater risk of developing cognitive dysfunction, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, than those living in less deprived areas.

They also found that those living in the most deprived areas were more likely to be anxious or depressed and had three years less education. They also exercised less, weighed more and smoked more.

"The overall results of our study suggest that older people living in the most deprived areas in Ireland, North and South, are at higher risk of poor mental health and developing cognitive impairment. We should target resources and strategies at this group to reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment," commented Prof Helene McNulty of the University of Ulster.

The findings were presented at the recent annual Scientific Meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society in Galway.

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