Cross national patterns in educational inequalities in functional limitations among middle aged and older adults at two time points.

Rachel Z Wilkie, Eun Young Choi, Mateo P Farina, Jinkook Lee, Jennifer A Ailshire

Spatial Sciences Institute, Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States.Spatial Sciences Institute, Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

In recent decades, the global population has aged rapidly while socioeconomic inequalities in health have widened, with older adults who are most disadvantaged experiencing the poorest health. Functional limitations are key predictors of disability and quality of life and are therefore considered an important measure of how well individuals and populations are aging. We determine if educational inequalities in functioning have widened over time and across countries.

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Research summary

The paper examines educational inequalities in functional limitations among older adults, which is relevant to understanding how socioeconomic factors influence aging and health outcomes. However, while it addresses important aspects of aging, it does not tackle the root causes of aging or propose solutions for lifespan extension. The findings may contribute to the field by highlighting disparities in health among older populations, but the impact is limited to social determinants of health rather than advancing the biological understanding of aging.

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