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The effects of education on cognition in older age: Evidence from genotyped Siblings

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  • Fletcher, Jason
  • Topping, Michael
  • Zheng, Fengyi
  • Lu, Qiongshi

Abstract

A growing literature has sought to tie educational attainment with later-life cognition and Alzheimer's disease outcomes. This paper leverages sibling comparisons in educational attainment as well as genetic predictors (polygenic scores) for cognition, educational attainment, and Alzheimer's disease to estimate effects of educational attainment on cognition in older age in the United Kingdom. We find that the effects of education on cognition are confounded by family background factors (~40%) and by genetics (<10%). After adjustments, we continue to find large effects of education. College graduates have cognition scores that are approximately 0.75 SD higher than those who report no credentials. We also find evidence that educational effects on cognition are smaller for those with high polygenic scores for Alzheimer's disease.

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  • Fletcher, Jason & Topping, Michael & Zheng, Fengyi & Lu, Qiongshi, 2021. "The effects of education on cognition in older age: Evidence from genotyped Siblings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:280:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621003762
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114044
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    Cited by:

    1. Amin, Vikesh & Behrman, Jere R. & Fletcher, Jason M. & Flores, Carlos A. & Flores-Lagunes, Alfonso & Kohler, Hans-Peter, 2022. "Does Schooling Improve Cognitive Abilities at Older Ages? Causal Evidence from Nonparametric Bounds," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1114, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Noghanibehambari, Hamid & Fletcher, Jason, 2023. "Long-Term Health Benefits of Occupational Licensing: Evidence from Midwifery Laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Zhang, Yan & Fletcher, Jason & Lu, Qiongshi & Song, Jie, 2023. "Gender differences in the association between parity and cognitive function: Evidence from the UK biobank," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    4. Topping, Michael & Fletcher, Jason, 2024. "Educational attainment, family background and the emergence of pain gradients in adulthood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    5. Hamid Noghanibehambari & Farzaneh Noghani, 2023. "Long‐run intergenerational health benefits of women empowerment: Evidence from suffrage movements in the US," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(11), pages 2583-2631, November.
    6. Amin, Vikesh & Fletcher, Jason M & Lu, Qiongshi & Song, Jie, 2023. "Re-examining the relationship between education and adult mental health in the UK: A research note," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    7. Jason Fletcher & Hamid Noghanibehambari, 2023. "Toxified to the Bone: Early-Life and Childhood Exposure to Lead and Men’s Old-Age Mortality," NBER Working Papers 31957, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Hamid Noghanibehambari & Jason Fletcher, 2023. "The Early Bird Catches the Worm: The Effect of Birth Order on Old‐Age Mortality," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(3), pages 531-560, September.
    9. Yuan S. Zhang & Elizabeth Frankenberg & Duncan Thomas, 2024. "Education and Adult Cognition in a Low-income Setting: Differences among Adult Siblings," NBER Working Papers 32362, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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