Bridging the Cognitive Divide: How Lifestyle and Social Factors are Narrowing Gender Gaps in Aging
Exploring the evolving landscape of cognitive function in older adults, recent research delves into the narrowing gap between men and women in China. Over time, women, traditionally trailing behind men in cognitive abilities in their later years, are catching up. This change, observed from 2002 to 2018, highlights the significant role of lifestyle adjustments, increased social engagement, and improved physical health in this shift.
The study utilized data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, encompassing over 56,000 individuals aged 65 and above. It employed the Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition approach to analyze the data. Findings revealed that while older women consistently had lower cognitive function levels than men, this gap decreased notably by 1.45 points over the study period.
Key to this development are factors like lifestyle changes, social participation, and physical health. These elements have been pivotal in reducing the cognitive function gap. The research underscores the importance of targeted interventions in these areas, particularly for older women, to continue bridging this cognitive divide.
