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Socioeconomic and Contextual Differentials in Memory Decline: A Cross-Country Investigation Between England and China

Author

Listed:
  • Dorina Cadar
  • Laura Brocklebank
  • Li Yan
  • Yaohui Zhao
  • Andrew Steptoe
  • James M Raymo

Abstract

ObjectivesAlthough 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.MethodsThe 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.ResultsOur 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.DiscussionOur 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorina Cadar & Laura Brocklebank & Li Yan & Yaohui Zhao & Andrew Steptoe & James M Raymo, 2023. "Socioeconomic and Contextual Differentials in Memory Decline: A Cross-Country Investigation Between England and China," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 78(3), pages 544-555.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:78:y:2023:i:3:p:544-555.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson & Asri Maharani & Gindo Tampubolon, 2022. "Social Contact Mode and 15-Year Episodic Memory Trajectories in Older Adults With and Without Hearing Loss: Findings From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(1), pages 10-17.
    2. Fabian T. Pfeffer & Sheldon Danziger & Robert F. Schoeni, 2013. "Wealth Disparities Before and After the Great Recession," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 650(1), pages 98-123, November.
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