Mosca, Irene and Wright, Robert E.
(2016)
Height and cognition at older ages: Irish evidence.
Economics Letters, 149.
pp. 98-101.
ISSN 0165-1765
Abstract
Previous research suggests that taller individuals have greater cognitive ability. The aim of this paper is
to empirically investigate whether the relationship between height and cognition holds in later-life using
data from the first wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Seven measures of cognition
are used. These measures capture aspects of cognition which are more likely to decline in old age, such
as cognitive flexibility, processing speed, concentration and attention. It is found that height is positively
and significantly associated with cognition in later-life also when education and early-life indicators are
controlled for. The finding that adult height is a marker for nutrition and health environment experienced
in early-life is widely accepted in the literature. The findings of this paper suggest that height might have
a greater value added, as it appears to be a useful measure of unobserved childhood experiences.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Cognition;
Height;
Ageing;
Early-life; Health; Demographic Economics; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics, Finance and Accounting |
| Item ID: |
11383 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2016.10.016 |
| Depositing User: |
Irene Mosca
|
| Date Deposited: |
18 Oct 2019 10:22 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Economics Letters |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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