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Lifetime socioeconomic inequalities in physical and cognitive aging

Author

Listed:
  • Hurst, L.
  • Stafford, M.
  • Cooper, R.
  • Hardy, R.
  • Richards, M.
  • Kuh, D.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the relationship between childhood and adult socioeconomic position (SEP) and objectively assessed, later-life functioning. Methods. We used the Medical Research Council's National Survey of Health and Development data to examine performance at 60 to 64 years (obtained in 2006-2011) for a representative UK sample. We compared 9 physical and cognitive performance measures (forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, handgrip strength, chair rise time, standing balance time, timed get up and go speed, verbal memory score, processing speed, and simple reaction time) over the SEP distribution. Results. Each performance measure was socially graded. Those at the top of the childhood SEP distribution had between 7% and 20% better performance than those at the bottom. Inequalities generally persisted after adjustment for adult SEP. When we combined the 9 performance measures, the relative difference was 66% (95% confidence interval = 53%, 78%). Conclusions. Public health practice should monitor and target inequalities in functional performance, as well as risk of disease and death. Effective strategies will need to affect the social determinants of health in early life to influence inequalities into old age.

Suggested Citation

  • Hurst, L. & Stafford, M. & Cooper, R. & Hardy, R. & Richards, M. & Kuh, D., 2013. "Lifetime socioeconomic inequalities in physical and cognitive aging," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(9), pages 1641-1648.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301240_7
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301240
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    Cited by:

    1. Gitte Lindved Petersen & Jolene Lee Masters Pedersen & Naja Hulvej Rod & Erik Lykke Mortensen & Ichiro Kawachi & Merete Osler & Åse Marie Hansen & Rikke Lund, 2018. "Childhood socioeconomic position and physical capability in late-middle age in two birth cohorts from the Copenhagen aging and midlife biobank," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Collin F. Payne & Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé & Kathleen Kahn & Lisa Berkman, 2017. "Physical Function in an Aging Population in Rural South Africa: Findings From HAALSI and Cross-National Comparisons With HRS Sister Studies," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(4), pages 665-679.
    3. Natasha Wood & Anne McMunn & Elizabeth Webb & Mai Stafford, 2019. "Marriage and physical capability at mid to later life in England and the USA," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Yuka Minagawa & Yasuhiko Saito, 2018. "An analysis of factors related to disability-free life expectancy at 65 years of age across Japanese prefectures in 2010," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 15-22, March.
    5. Asada, Yukiko & Grignon, Michel & Hurley, Jeremiah & Kirkland, Susan, 2020. "Cautionary tails of grip strength in health inequality studies: An analysis from the Canadian longitudinal study on aging," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    6. Sian M. Robinson & Leo D. Westbury & Kate Ward & Holly Syddall & Rachel Cooper & Cyrus Cooper & Avan A. Sayer, 2021. "Is lifestyle change around retirement associated with better physical performance in older age?: insights from a longitudinal cohort," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 513-521, December.
    7. Geeske Peeters & John R. Beard & Dorly J. H. Deeg & Leigh R. Tooth & Wendy J. Brown & Annette J. Dobson, 2019. "Longitudinal associations between lifestyle, socio-economic position and physical functioning in women at different life stages," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 167-179, June.
    8. Kobayashi, Lindsay C. & Glymour, M. Maria & Kahn, Kathleen & Payne, Collin F. & Wagner, Ryan G. & Montana, Livia & Mateen, Farrah J. & Tollman, Stephen M. & Berkman, Lisa F., 2017. "Childhood deprivation and later-life cognitive function in a population-based study of older rural South Africans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 20-28.
    9. Collin F. Payne & Iliana V. Kohler & Chiwoza Bandawe & Kathy Lawler & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2018. "Cognition, Health, and Well-Being in a Rural Sub-Saharan African Population," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(4), pages 637-662, October.
    10. Galit Weinstein, 2016. "Childhood conditions and current physical performance among non-institutionalized individuals aged 50+ in Israel," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 335-347, December.
    11. Samuel, Laura J. & Glass, Thomas A. & Thorpe, Roland J. & Szanton, Sarah L. & Roth, David L., 2015. "Household and neighborhood conditions partially account for associations between education and physical capacity in the National Health and Aging Trends Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 67-75.
    12. Fletcher, Jason & Jajtner, Katie M., 2023. "Multidimensional intergenerational mobility," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    13. Else Foverskov & Gitte Lindved Petersen & Jolene Lee Masters Pedersen & Naja Hulvej Rod & Erik Lykke Mortensen & Helle Bruunsgaard & Rikke Lund, 2020. "Economic hardship over twenty-two consecutive years of adult life and markers of early ageing: physical capability, cognitive function and inflammation," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 55-67, March.
    14. Hannes Kröger & Johan Fritzell & Rasmus Hoffmann, 2016. "The Association of Levels of and Decline in Grip Strength in Old Age with Trajectories of Life Course Occupational Position," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.

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