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Children and late-life cognitive health: The role of motherhood penalties

Author

Listed:
  • Fischer, Martin
  • Nilsson, Therese
  • Seblova, Dominika
  • Lövdén, Martin

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the number of children and dementia risk among parents, addressing longstanding questions about how parenthood shapes cognitive health in later life. Using comprehensive administrative data on all parents born in Sweden between 1920 and 1950, along with their completed fertility histories, our baseline analysis reveals a U-shaped association between the number of children and dementia risk. Childless individuals and those with more than three children face significantly higher dementia risks. However, when accounting for confounding factors through instrumental variable analysis and within-sibling comparisons, we find no evidence that having multiple children increases dementia risk. Instead, our esults suggest that parenthood generally lowers the risk of dementia across all parity levels, challenging recent studies reporting a negative relationship between higher parity and cognitive function. Furthermore, we find that fathers benefit more than mothers from having additional children in terms of cognitive health in old age. Complementary analyses focusing on known dementia risk factors including educational attainment, labor market outcomes, and social or geographical proximity to children suggest that motherhood-related penalties may attenuate the cognitive health benefits of parenthood for women.

Suggested Citation

  • Fischer, Martin & Nilsson, Therese & Seblova, Dominika & Lövdén, Martin, 2025. "Children and late-life cognitive health: The role of motherhood penalties," Ruhr Economic Papers 1153, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:323235
    DOI: 10.4419/96973337
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manski, Charles F, 1990. "Nonparametric Bounds on Treatment Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 319-323, May.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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