Aging and Cognition

This session explores the complex relationships between aging, cognition, and society across diverse populations. As global populations age, understanding cognitive change is increasingly important not only for individuals and families, but also for healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities. Presentations in this session will examine how social inequality, life-course experiences, health disparities, and social environments shape cognitive aging outcomes. Likely topics for this session include cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving, and social isolation. Many papers will also describe the importance of socioeconomic status, race, gender, and social engagement on cognitive well-being among older adults.

This session welcomes papers using either quantitative or qualitative methods, and encourages a discussion of public policy implications.