Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
; 76(4): e140-e152, 2021 03 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31603514
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.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Parity
/
Psychology
/
Socioeconomic Factors
/
Cognition
/
Fertility
/
Cognitive Aging
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
/
Patient_preference
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
Mexico
Language:
En
Journal:
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS SOCIAIS
/
GERIATRIA
/
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article