Cognition and Context: Rural–Urban Differences in Cognitive Aging Among Older Mexican Adults

Abstract

Respondents residing in more rural areas were disadvantaged in terms of cognitive functioning compared with those residing in more urban areas. Poorer cognitive functioning in late life may be the result of historical educational disadvantage in rural areas or selection through migration from rural to urban regions for employment.

Disabilities moderate the association between neighbourhood urbanity and cognitive health: Results from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing

“…Education and social engagement are well-established protective factors for cognitive health in ageing (37), and previous studies have shown that urban-rural variations in cognitive functioning could be ascribed to differences in mental stimulation received through education (16) or through social engagement (38). However, the interactions remained significant even after controlling for educational attainment or social engagement in our multivariate models, suggesting that socioeconomic circumstances did not fully account for the association between neighbourhood urbanity and disabilities in our sample.…”

“…Several epidemiological studies have indicated a cognitive advantage of living in urban rather than rural areas (5,(15)(16)(17). However, the moderating role of disabilities has been investigated in very few studies.…”

Association between plasma CCL11 (eotaxin-1) and cognitive status in older adults: Differences between rural and urban dwellers

“…Populationbased studies indicate that cognitive performance in older adults is influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, with level of education, gender, age and income showing consistent associations (Wight et al, 2006). Few studies have also examined the influence of the residential environment (rural or urban) on cognition but the findings have been inconsistent (Crowe et al, 2010;Nunes, et al;Saenz et al, 2018;Xu et al, 2017).…”

Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Mexican Older Adults: Data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS)

“…Prior work has associated poorer cognitive functioning among older Mexican adults residing in more rural areas. 36 The association of rurality and cognition may be in part driven by the historical educational disadvantage found in rural areas. 36 In our current study, both years of education and rurality contributed independently to the increased risk of MCI.…”