Dataset Information

Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Mexico is aging rapidly, which makes identification of life-course factors influencing cognition a public health priority. We evaluate how the number of children one has relates to cognition in Mexico, a rapidly aging country that experienced fertility declines across recent cohorts of older people.

Method

We analyze older adults (age 50+, n = 11,380) from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Respondents were categorized by number of children ever born (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6+). Using ordinary least squares regression, we estimate independent associations between fertility history and cognition accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial factors.

Results

We observed an inverse U-shaped relationship between number of children (peaking at 2-3 children) and cognitive function, regardless of gender. In regression analyses adjusted for confounding variables, having 0-1 (vs 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function only for females. Regardless of gender, having 6+ (vs 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function. These associations remained significant even after accounting for socioeconomic, health, employment, and psychosocial factors.

Discussion

Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender.

SUBMITTER: Saenz JL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7955970 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.

Saenz Joseph L JL Díaz-Venegas Carlos C Crimmins Eileen M EM

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20210301 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>Mexico is aging rapidly, which makes identification of life-course factors influencing cognition a public health priority. We evaluate how the number of children one has relates to cognition in Mexico, a rapidly aging country that experienced fertility declines across recent cohorts of older people.<h4>Method</h4>We analyze older adults (age 50+, n = 11,380) from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Respondents were categorized by number of children ever born (0-1, 2-3, 4- ...[more]

PMID: 31603514

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Dataset Information

Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.

Objectives

Method

Results

Discussion

Publications

Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.

Similar Datasets

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