MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Height and cognition at older ages: Irish evidence


    Mosca, Irene and Wright, Robert E. (2016) Height and cognition at older ages: Irish evidence. Economics Letters, 149. pp. 98-101. ISSN 0165-1765

    [thumbnail of IM_Height_2016.pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    IM_Height_2016.pdf

    Download (478kB) | Preview

    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: 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
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/11383
    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

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads