Childhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Pathways to Memory Performance in Mid to Late Adulthood: What Matters Most?

Abstract

Objectives Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage is consistently associated with lower cognitive function in later life. This study aims to distinguish the contribution of specific aspects of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage for memory performance in mid-to-late adulthood, with consideration for direct and indirect effects through education and occupation. Methods Data were from adults aged 50-80 years who completed the life history module in the 2006/07 wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n=4,553). The outcome, memory score, was based on word recall tests (range: 0-20 points). We used the g-formula to estimate direct and indirect effects of a composite variable for childhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and its four individual components: lower-skilled occupation of the primary breadwinner, having few books in the home, overcrowding in the home, and lack of water and heating facilities in the home. Results Few books were the most consequential component of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage for later life memory (total effect: ⎼0.82 points for few books; 95% CI: ⎼1.04, ⎼0.60), with roughly half being a direct effect. The total effect of a breadwinner in lower-skilled occupations was smaller but not significantly different from few books (⎼0.67 points; 95% CI: ⎼0.88, ⎼0.46), while it was significantly smaller with overcrowding (⎼0.31 points; 95% CI: ⎼0.56, ⎼0.06). The latter two total effects were mostly mediated by education and occupation. Discussion A literate environment in the childhood home may have lasting direct effects on memory function in mid-to-later life, while parental occupation and overcrowding appear to influence memory primarily through educational and occupational pathways.

Sex/gender and socioeconomic differences in modifiable risk factors for dementia

“…The finding that lower SES during childhood or adulthood is associated with an increased dementia risk, is consistent with previous research 14 – 17 . Childhood SES may lead to an increased dementia risk through several pathways.…”

“…Furthermore, results from the Whitehall II study suggest that low midlife occupation was associated with an increased dementia risk 16 . Other ELSA research found that childhood socioeconomic disadvantages were linked to late-life cognitive performance 17 . Socioeconomic inequalities in dementia risk may be the result of differences in prevalence of modifiable risk factors for dementia 18 , 19 but may also be the result of differences in opportunities for cognitively and socially stimulating activities and the social environment at large 20 .…”

Gendered life courses and cognitive functioning in later life: the role of context-specific gender norms and lifetime employment

“…Employment experiences over the life course, particularly occupation and employment intensity explain variation in older-age cognitive performance beyond education Finkel et al 2009;Greenberg and Burgard 2021). Similarly, the contribution of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage on cognitive performance at older ages is mediated through both educational attainment and occupation (Aartsen et al 2019;Ford et al 2022).…”