Effects of Schooling on Memory in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Shana Stites, Vikesh Amin, Jere Behrman, Jason Fletcher, Carlos Flores, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Iliana Kohler, Hans-Peter Kohler
Primary Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Hypothesis
Does early life schooling impact memory performance in older ages across different countries?
Conclusion
An extra grade of schooling is linked to improved memory scores in older adults, particularly in several low- and middle-income countries.
Supporting Evidence
- An extra grade of schooling is associated with higher memory scores in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
- The study used data from the World Health Organization's research on aging.
- The findings suggest that education can have lasting effects on cognitive abilities in older age.
Takeaway
Going to school for one more year can help older people remember things better, especially in countries like China and India.
Methodology
The study used harmonized data from the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health and applied a nonparametric partial-identification approach.
Limitations
The study could not statistically rule out null effects for South Africa and at higher parts of the schooling distributions.
Participant Demographics
Older adults from China, Ghana, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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