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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
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Does Childbearing Affect Cognitive Health in Later Life? Evidence From an Instrumental Variable Approach.

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Having three or more children is linked to a decline in cognitive function later in life. This study explored the impact of family size on cognitive aging, particularly in Northern Europe.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Demography
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Population aging is a significant global concern.
  • Fertility rates and family size are potential determinants of cognitive function in later life.
  • Previous research suggests a link between fertility history and late-life cognition, but causality is not established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal relationship between having three or more children versus two children and cognitive functioning in later life.
  • To analyze the influence of family size on cognitive aging using a large European dataset.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an instrumental variable approach with data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).
  • Exploited the sex composition of the first two children as an instrumental variable for having three or more children.
  • Compared late-life cognitive function between parents with three or more children and those with two children.

Main Results:

  • Having three or more children was associated with a negative effect on late-life cognitive function compared to having two children.
  • This negative impact was most pronounced in Northern Europe.
  • The findings suggest that increased fertility may strain financial resources without commensurate social benefits in certain regions.

Conclusions:

  • Having a larger family (three or more children) may negatively impact cognitive function in older age.
  • The socioeconomic context, particularly in Northern Europe, may mediate the relationship between fertility and cognitive decline.
  • Further research is needed to explore the effects of childlessness or single-child families and the underlying mechanisms.