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Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Chronic Diseases and their Association with Cognitive Functioning of Adults in India: A Multilevel Analysis

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Abstract

Cognitive functioning is an important factor in determining overall well-being in adults. The research conducted in this area has mainly focused on dementia and gender differentials in cognitive ability. Using data from WHO’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), this study examines the association of individual, household, contextual socioeconomic status, and chronic morbidities with cognitive abilities of younger (18-49) and older adults (50+) in India. Multilevel linear hierarchical model was used to examine this association. Results show that the years of schooling and household income were positively and significantly associated with cognitive abilities in younger and older adults. Community level socioeconomic status was positively associated with cognition in adults. Females had significantly lower cognitive abilities than male counterparts. Further, chronic morbidites and edentulism were negatively associated with cognition, especially the association of chronic morbidities was stronger in younger adults (β = −0.11; p < .001). Measures to prevent chronic health conditions and edentulism are mportant to improve the quality of aging in India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi, India

    Harish Kumar

  2. International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India

    P. Arokiasamy & Y. Selvamani

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  1. Harish Kumar
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Table 4 Mean of cognition parameters by various background characteristics in 18–49 years age group
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Table 5 Mean of cognition parameters by various background characteristics in 50+ years age group
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Kumar, H., Arokiasamy, P. & Selvamani, Y. Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Chronic Diseases and their Association with Cognitive Functioning of Adults in India: A Multilevel Analysis. Population Ageing 13, 285–303 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-019-09243-9

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