Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation and Cognitive Decline Among Older Americans

Linlin Da, Zhezheng Jin, Qianhui Xu, Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond, Zhuo Chen (), M. Mahmud Khan, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Xi Chen (), Bei Wu and Suhang Song
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Linlin Da: Georgia State University
Zhezheng Jin: Columbia University
Qianhui Xu: New York University
Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond: University of Georgia
Zhuo Chen: DHHS
M. Mahmud Khan: University of Georgia
Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa: University of Georgia
Xi Chen: Yale University
Bei Wu: New York University
Suhang Song: Georgia State University

No 18150, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This study examines how SNAP participation may affect age-related cognitive decline among cognitively intact older adults over 10 years. Leveraging a longitudinal survey of SNAP-eligible participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) collected biennially from 2010 to 2020, we estimate the relationship between SNAP participation and cognitive decline across different population groups. We show that SNAP participation is associated with a slower cognitive decline in global cognition, memory, and executive function. A significant three?way interaction among SNAP participation, race/ethnicity, and time indicates faster decline in global cognition among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic SNAP users. Our findings suggest that SNAP participation may help slow age-related cognitive decline. However, the benefits of SNAP vary across different population groups. Policies promoting equitable access to SNAP benefits have significant potential to improve cognitive health across diverse populations.

Keywords: cognitive decline; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); longitudinal study; disparity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H53 H75 I18 I38 J14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10
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