Stronger Increases in Cognitive Functions among Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Older Adults in China: A Longitudinal Analysis with Multiple Birth Cohorts

Fan Yang, Jiangling Cao, Dongfu Qian and Aixia Ma
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Fan Yang: School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, No.639 Longmian Str, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211198, China
Jiangling Cao: School of Health Policy & Management, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 210029, China
Dongfu Qian: School of Health Policy & Management, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 210029, China
Aixia Ma: School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, No.639 Longmian Str, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211198, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Highly variable changes in cognitive functions occur as people get older, and socio-economically disadvantaged older adults are more likely to suffer from cognitive decline. This study aims to identify the longitudinal trend in cognitive functions among different socio-economic groups of older adults. The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) followed up 32,323 individuals aged 65 years and older over a 12-year period. A series of mixed-effects models was used to explicitly assess cohort trend and its socio-economic disparity in the cognitive functions of older adults. Scores for significant increase in cognitive functions by birth cohort were smaller by 0.49, 0.28, and 0.64 among older adults with more educational experience, a lower household income, or economic dependence relative to their counterparts. Scores for differences in cognitive function between older adults with higher and lower incomes were smaller by 0.46 among those living in urban areas than among those living in rural areas. Although there were larger cohort growth trends in cognitive functions among older adults with lower educational attainment, lower household income, and who were economically dependent, effective public intervention targeting these socio-economically disadvantaged populations is still necessary.

Keywords: Cognitive decline; Socio-economically disadvantaged; Cohort trend; Socio-economic disparity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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