Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late-Life: The Case of Mexico.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nMexico is aging rapidly, which makes identification of life-course factors influencing cognition a public health priority. We evaluate how the number of children one has relates to cognition in Mexico, a rapidly aging country that experienced fertility declines across recent cohorts of older people.\n\n\nMETHOD\nWe analyze older adults (age 50+, n=11,380) from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Respondents were categorized by number of children ever born (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6+). Using ordinary least squares regression, we estimate independent associations between fertility history and cognition accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial factors.\n\n\nRESULTS\nWe observed an inverse U-shaped relationship between number of children (peaking at 2-3 children) and cognitive function, regardless of gender. In regression analyses adjusted for confounding variables, having 0-1 (versus 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function only for females. Regardless of gender, having 6+ (versus 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function. These associations remained significant even after accounting for socioeconomic, health, employment, and psychosocial factors.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nOur results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender.