title: Economic conditions at the time of birth and cognitive abilities late in life: evidence from ten European countries.
abstract: With ageing populations, it becomes increasingly important to understand the determinants of cognitive ability among the elderly. We apply survey data of 17,070 respondents from ten countries to examine several domains of cognitive functioning at ages 60+, and we link them to the macro-economic deviations in the year of birth. We find that economic conditions at birth significantly influence cognitive functioning late in life in various domains. Recessions negatively influence numeracy, verbal fluency, recall abilities, as well as the score on the omnibus cognitive indicator. The results are robust; controlling for current characteristics does not change effect sizes and significance. We discuss possible causal social and biological pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sociology and Demography, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany ; Department of Population Studies, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn & Rostock, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany ; Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doblhammer
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fritze
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003071:Cognition; D057172:Economic Recession / Q000266:history*; D004777:Environment; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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