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Socioeconomic and contextual differentials in memory decline: a cross-country investigation between England and China

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posted on 2023-06-10, 06:03 authored by Dorina CadarDorina Cadar, Laura Brocklebank, Li Yan, Yaohui Zhao, Andrew Steptoe
Objectives Although cognitive functioning is strongly associated with biological changes in the brain during the aging process, very little is known about the role of sociocultural differentials between the western and eastern parts of the world. We examined the associations between individual socioeconomic markers (e.g., education, household wealth) and contextual levels characteristics (e.g., urbanicity) with memory performance and memory decline over up to 8 years of follow-up in England and China. Methods The analytical samples included participants aged 50+ from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 6,687) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (n = 10,252). Mixed linear models were employed to examine the association between baseline individual socioeconomic markers (education, wealth) and contextual-level characteristics (urbanicity) on the change in memory over time. Results Our analyses showed that higher education and wealth were associated with better baseline memory in both England and China. Still, the impact of contextual-level characteristics such as urbanicity differed between the 2 countries. For English individuals, living in a rural area showed an advantage in memory, while the opposite pattern was observed in China. Memory decline appeared to be socioeconomically patterned by higher education, wealth, and urbanicity in China but not in England. Discussion Our findings highlight substantial socioeconomic and contextual inequity in memory performance in both England and China, as well as in the rate of memory decline primarily in China. Public health strategies for preventing memory decline should target the socioeconomic gaps at the individual and contextual levels to protect those particularly disadvantaged.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

ISSN

1079-5014

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Page range

gbac163 1-12

Event location

United States

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2023-01-24

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2023-01-24

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2023-01-24

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