Joseph Saenz
Biographic Data
| ID | 375978 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Joseph Saenz |
| GIVEN NAMES | Joseph |
| FAMILY NAME | Saenz |
| SIGNATURE | SAENZ J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Southern California |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4200-9615 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 31 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 68 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 28 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 3 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Number of living siblings, social engagement, and cognitive decline among older Mexican adults
A Comparison of Dementia-free Life Expectancy Estimates Across Competing Algorithmic Classifications
Small differences in population-level estimates across algorithmic classification are observed; however, these small differences may be important for understanding disparities across groups. Therefore, more work is needed 1) to understand for whom and which models are most accurately identifying dementia and 2) to place these models relative to gold-standard adjudicated dementia assessments
Associations between low food security and subjective memory complaints among Latino adults
Experiences of low food security were related with more frequent memory complaints. Subjective memory complaints are related with future cognitive impairment and dementia, making them important early markers of cognitive problems. Future studies should evaluate potential cognitive benefits of addressing food insecurity and its downstream effects on mental health
Does the Association Between Educational Attainment and Cognition Differ Between Indigenous Language Speakers and Non-Indigenous Language Speakers in Mexico
ObjectivesIndigenous populations in Mexico, comprising roughly one-fifth of the population, face significant unique cognitive health challenges in older adulthood. This study examines cognitive performance differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous language speakers and evaluates whether the cognitive benefits of educational attainment differs between these populations.MethodsWe analyzed the 2018 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS, n = 1…
Mapping the Trajectories of Social Relations for White, Black, and Hispanic/Latino Individuals Approaching Death With Dementia
Objectives Larger social networks are associated with a lower risk of dementia, but little is known about how social networks shift as someone with dementia approaches death. We investigate these shifts while giving special attention to race and ethnicity, which are related to different dementia patterns, social network sizes, and social network makeup. Methods This study included 2,301 deceased people with dementia from the Health and Retirement…
Prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in the Mexican population
Leveraging the nationally-representative and comprehensive cognitive data in Mex-Cog, an algorithm-derived classification of dementia and MCI provided the prevalence of dementia and MCI in Mexico. Besides the association with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, the effect of education, rural residence, and lack of health insurance suggests an unequal burden of MCI and dementia among the aging Mexican population
Family Size Across the Life Course and Cognitive Decline in Older Mexican Adults
Objectives A growing body of research has identified associations between family size and cognition in older adults. These studies largely focus on older adults’ own fertility history instead of sibship size, defined as one’s number of siblings. Sibship size may affect cognitive development during early childhood, creating differences that may persist into late life. Using a gendered life course framework, this study evaluates how family size acr…
Correlates of SuperAging in Two Population-Based Samples of Hispanic Older Adults
Increasing access to education and recognizing/treating depressive symptoms represent potential pathways to preserve episodic memory among older Hispanic adults
Lives in Motion
Gendered Marital Power, Depression, and Cognition Among Older Adults in Mexico
Objectives As Mexico rapidly ages, population-level cognitive issues and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia are projected to increase. Limited social welfare positions family members—especially spouses—as the main support resource. Although past research suggests marital power imbalances relate with increased depression among Mexican older adults, how marital power imbalance relates with cognition and gender differences therein remains unde…
The Relationship Between Multimorbidity and Types of Chronic Diseases and Self-Rated Memory
This study explores the impact of multimorbidity and types of chronic diseases on self-rated memory in older adults in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2011 wave of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS, N = 6,481). Logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between multimorbidity and types of chronic diseases and fair/poor self-rated memory. Compared to respondents with no or one chronic disease, respondent…
Loneliness and Psychological Distress Among Older Californians
Loneliness was the most consistent stressor affecting multiple life domains. However, our findings demonstrate that stress proliferation is occurring among older immigrant adults and the interplay between loneliness, citizenship status, and English proficiency is contributing to heightened distress. Further attention is needed in understanding the role of multiple stressors influencing mental health among immigrant older adults
How Age and Life Stage of Relocation Fosters Social Belonging
Objectives The presumed “ossification effect” of the past on older generations remains influential in the scholarship on aging and migration, orienting scholars to highlight the vulnerability of senior migrants in new societies. As a result, the ability of older generations to adapt to receiving societies has been underestimated and largely undifferentiated, and little is known about how age and life stage at arrival matter for how older individu…
Gender, Personality, and Cognitive Resilience Against Early-Life Disadvantage
Personality factors may convey resilience among individuals who experienced ELD, potentially breaking the link between ELD and worse late-life cognition. Structural factors and gender roles may affect how much women benefit from personality factors
Immigration, Racialization, and Asian American Older Adults’ Cognitive Difficulties
The differential pattern of cognitive difficulties among AAOA reveals a fuller picture of variations within AAOA by immigration status. The results imply that more research is needed to develop culturally sensitive practices that account for the racialized differences by AAOA's immigration status. Further research into the interplay between structural determinants is necessary to formulate practice and policy interventions to address better succe…
Rural/urban dwelling across the life-course and late-life cognitive ability in Mexico
Early- and late-life urban dwelling may result in cognitive advantages for older Mexican adults. Clinicians should consider where individuals resided throughout life to better understand a patient's likelihood of experiencing poor cognitive outcomes
Working in old age in Mexico
Previous studies indicate that occupation might affect cognitive functioning in late life. As people in low- and middle-income countries often have to work until late life, we sought to investigate if there are cognitive benefits to working later into life and whether cognitive function deteriorates after exiting the labour force. We analysed longitudinal data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), a nationally representative sample of M…
Offspring Educational Attainment and Older Parents' Cognition in Mexico
Population-level disparities in later-life cognitive health point to the importance of family resources. Although the bulk of prior work on the topic has established the directional flow of resources from parents to offspring, the linked lives perspective raises the question of how offspring resources could affect parental health as well. This study examines whether adult children's education influences older parents' (aged 50+) cognitive health …
Adult child socio-economic status disadvantage and cognitive decline among older parents in Mexico
The Association Between Spousal Education and Cognitive Ability Among Older Mexican Adults
In addition to own education, spousal education was associated with better cognitive ability, even at relatively low levels of education. We discuss the possibility that spousal education may improve cognition via transmission of knowledge and mutually reinforcing cognitively stimulating environments
Spousal Support, Spousal Strain, and Loneliness in Older Mexican Couples
Among married adults, spousal support and strain may be important factors to understand loneliness within marriage. Effects should be interpreted within the context of functional limitation
Racial/Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Adults in the United States
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To document racial/ethnic and nativity differences by gender in cognitive life expectancies among older adults in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sullivan-based life tables were used to estimate cognitively normal, cognitively impaired/no dementia (CIND), and dementia life expectancies by gender for White, Black, U.S.-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic adults 50 years and older in the Health and Re…
Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life
Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender
Marital power and depressive symptoms among older Mexican adults
An extensive body of research documents marital status differences in health among older adults. However, few studies have investigated the heterogeneity in depressive symptomatology among older married adults living in developing countries. Our study investigates the interplay of gender and marital power dynamics for mental health among older Mexican adults. Our sample includes older married couples in the 2015 Wave of the Mexican Health and Agi…
Religious Participation and Mortality Risk in Mexico
Our results confirm that religious participation is associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among older adults in Mexico. Our analyses contribute to previous research by replicating and extending the external validity of studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Denmark, Finland, and Taiwan
Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life
Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender
Adult child socio-economic status disadvantage and cognitive decline among older parents in Mexico
Offspring Educational Attainment and Older Parents' Cognition in Mexico
Population-level disparities in later-life cognitive health point to the importance of family resources. Although the bulk of prior work on the topic has established the directional flow of resources from parents to offspring, the linked lives perspective raises the question of how offspring resources could affect parental health as well. This study examines whether adult children's education influences older parents' (aged 50+) cognitive health …
Cognition and Context
Respondents residing in more rural areas were disadvantaged in terms of cognitive functioning compared with those residing in more urban areas. Poorer cognitive functioning in late life may be the result of historical educational disadvantage in rural areas or selection through migration from rural to urban regions for employment
The Association Between Spousal Education and Cognitive Ability Among Older Mexican Adults
In addition to own education, spousal education was associated with better cognitive ability, even at relatively low levels of education. We discuss the possibility that spousal education may improve cognition via transmission of knowledge and mutually reinforcing cognitively stimulating environments
Spousal Support, Spousal Strain, and Loneliness in Older Mexican Couples
Among married adults, spousal support and strain may be important factors to understand loneliness within marriage. Effects should be interpreted within the context of functional limitation
Health Insurance and the Aging
Aimed at covering the large fraction of workers in the informal sector without access to a social security program, the Mexican public health insurance program Seguro Popular began in 2002 and now reaches more than 50 million individuals. We estimate impacts of Seguro Popular for the population aged 50 and older on a set of indicators related to health care including utilization, diagnostic/preventive tests, and treatment conditional on being ill…
The role of education in the association between race/ethnicity/nativity, cognitive impairment, and dementia among older adults in the United States
BACKGROUND: Older Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to be cognitively impaired than older White adults. Disadvantages in educational achievement for minority and immigrant populations may contribute to disparities in cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: Examine the role of education in racial/ethnic and nativity differences in cognitive impairment/no dementia (CIND) and dementia among older US adults. METHODS: Data comes from the 2012 Health …
Indoor air pollution and cognitive function among older Mexican adults
BACKGROUND: A growing body of research suggests exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution may negatively affect cognitive functioning in older adults, but less is known about the link between indoor sources of air pollution and cognitive functioning. We examine the association between exposure to indoor air pollution and cognitive function among older adults in Mexico, a developing country where combustion of biomass for domestic energy re…
An Introduction to Macro-Level Spatial Nonstationarity
Type II diabetes is a growing health problem in the United States. Understanding geographic variation in diabetes prevalence will inform where resources for management and prevention should be allocated. Investigations of the correlates of diabetes prevalence have largely ignored how spatial nonstationarity might play a role in the macro-level distribution of diabetes. This paper introduces the reader to the concept of spatial nonstationarity-var…
Family Size Across the Life Course and Cognitive Decline in Older Mexican Adults
Objectives A growing body of research has identified associations between family size and cognition in older adults. These studies largely focus on older adults’ own fertility history instead of sibship size, defined as one’s number of siblings. Sibship size may affect cognitive development during early childhood, creating differences that may persist into late life. Using a gendered life course framework, this study evaluates how family size acr…
Working in old age in Mexico
Previous studies indicate that occupation might affect cognitive functioning in late life. As people in low- and middle-income countries often have to work until late life, we sought to investigate if there are cognitive benefits to working later into life and whether cognitive function deteriorates after exiting the labour force. We analysed longitudinal data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), a nationally representative sample of M…
Gendered Marital Power, Depression, and Cognition Among Older Adults in Mexico
Objectives As Mexico rapidly ages, population-level cognitive issues and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia are projected to increase. Limited social welfare positions family members—especially spouses—as the main support resource. Although past research suggests marital power imbalances relate with increased depression among Mexican older adults, how marital power imbalance relates with cognition and gender differences therein remains unde…
How Age and Life Stage of Relocation Fosters Social Belonging
Objectives The presumed “ossification effect” of the past on older generations remains influential in the scholarship on aging and migration, orienting scholars to highlight the vulnerability of senior migrants in new societies. As a result, the ability of older generations to adapt to receiving societies has been underestimated and largely undifferentiated, and little is known about how age and life stage at arrival matter for how older individu…
Immigration, Racialization, and Asian American Older Adults’ Cognitive Difficulties
The differential pattern of cognitive difficulties among AAOA reveals a fuller picture of variations within AAOA by immigration status. The results imply that more research is needed to develop culturally sensitive practices that account for the racialized differences by AAOA's immigration status. Further research into the interplay between structural determinants is necessary to formulate practice and policy interventions to address better succe…
Religious Participation and Mortality Risk in Mexico
Our results confirm that religious participation is associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among older adults in Mexico. Our analyses contribute to previous research by replicating and extending the external validity of studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Denmark, Finland, and Taiwan
Family size and old-age wellbeing
The present study aims to determine how family size affects psycho-social, economic and health wellbeing in old age differently across two cohorts with declining fertility. The data are from the 2012 Mexican Health and Ageing Study (MHAS) including respondents aged 50+ (N = 13,102). Poisson (standard and zero-inflated) and logistic regressions are used to model determinants of wellbeing in old age: psycho-social (depressive symptoms), economic (c…
An Introduction to Macro-Level Spatial Nonstationarity
Type II diabetes is a growing health problem in the United States. Understanding geographic variation in diabetes prevalence will inform where resources for management and prevention should be allocated. Investigations of the correlates of diabetes prevalence have largely ignored how spatial nonstationarity might play a role in the macro-level distribution of diabetes. This paper introduces the reader to the concept of spatial nonstationarity-var…
Cognition and Context
Respondents residing in more rural areas were disadvantaged in terms of cognitive functioning compared with those residing in more urban areas. Poorer cognitive functioning in late life may be the result of historical educational disadvantage in rural areas or selection through migration from rural to urban regions for employment
Family size and old-age wellbeing
The present study aims to determine how family size affects psycho-social, economic and health wellbeing in old age differently across two cohorts with declining fertility. The data are from the 2012 Mexican Health and Ageing Study (MHAS) including respondents aged 50+ (N = 13,102). Poisson (standard and zero-inflated) and logistic regressions are used to model determinants of wellbeing in old age: psycho-social (depressive symptoms), economic (c…
Religious Participation and Mortality Risk in Mexico
Our results confirm that religious participation is associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among older adults in Mexico. Our analyses contribute to previous research by replicating and extending the external validity of studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Denmark, Finland, and Taiwan
Indoor air pollution and cognitive function among older Mexican adults
BACKGROUND: A growing body of research suggests exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution may negatively affect cognitive functioning in older adults, but less is known about the link between indoor sources of air pollution and cognitive functioning. We examine the association between exposure to indoor air pollution and cognitive function among older adults in Mexico, a developing country where combustion of biomass for domestic energy re…
Health Insurance and the Aging
Aimed at covering the large fraction of workers in the informal sector without access to a social security program, the Mexican public health insurance program Seguro Popular began in 2002 and now reaches more than 50 million individuals. We estimate impacts of Seguro Popular for the population aged 50 and older on a set of indicators related to health care including utilization, diagnostic/preventive tests, and treatment conditional on being ill…
The role of education in the association between race/ethnicity/nativity, cognitive impairment, and dementia among older adults in the United States
BACKGROUND: Older Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to be cognitively impaired than older White adults. Disadvantages in educational achievement for minority and immigrant populations may contribute to disparities in cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: Examine the role of education in racial/ethnic and nativity differences in cognitive impairment/no dementia (CIND) and dementia among older US adults. METHODS: Data comes from the 2012 Health …
Racial/Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Adults in the United States
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To document racial/ethnic and nativity differences by gender in cognitive life expectancies among older adults in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sullivan-based life tables were used to estimate cognitively normal, cognitively impaired/no dementia (CIND), and dementia life expectancies by gender for White, Black, U.S.-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic adults 50 years and older in the Health and Re…
Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life
Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender
Marital power and depressive symptoms among older Mexican adults
An extensive body of research documents marital status differences in health among older adults. However, few studies have investigated the heterogeneity in depressive symptomatology among older married adults living in developing countries. Our study investigates the interplay of gender and marital power dynamics for mental health among older Mexican adults. Our sample includes older married couples in the 2015 Wave of the Mexican Health and Agi…
The Association Between Spousal Education and Cognitive Ability Among Older Mexican Adults
In addition to own education, spousal education was associated with better cognitive ability, even at relatively low levels of education. We discuss the possibility that spousal education may improve cognition via transmission of knowledge and mutually reinforcing cognitively stimulating environments
Spousal Support, Spousal Strain, and Loneliness in Older Mexican Couples
Among married adults, spousal support and strain may be important factors to understand loneliness within marriage. Effects should be interpreted within the context of functional limitation
Offspring Educational Attainment and Older Parents' Cognition in Mexico
Population-level disparities in later-life cognitive health point to the importance of family resources. Although the bulk of prior work on the topic has established the directional flow of resources from parents to offspring, the linked lives perspective raises the question of how offspring resources could affect parental health as well. This study examines whether adult children's education influences older parents' (aged 50+) cognitive health …
Adult child socio-economic status disadvantage and cognitive decline among older parents in Mexico
Rural/urban dwelling across the life-course and late-life cognitive ability in Mexico
Early- and late-life urban dwelling may result in cognitive advantages for older Mexican adults. Clinicians should consider where individuals resided throughout life to better understand a patient's likelihood of experiencing poor cognitive outcomes
Working in old age in Mexico
Previous studies indicate that occupation might affect cognitive functioning in late life. As people in low- and middle-income countries often have to work until late life, we sought to investigate if there are cognitive benefits to working later into life and whether cognitive function deteriorates after exiting the labour force. We analysed longitudinal data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), a nationally representative sample of M…
The Relationship Between Multimorbidity and Types of Chronic Diseases and Self-Rated Memory
This study explores the impact of multimorbidity and types of chronic diseases on self-rated memory in older adults in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2011 wave of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS, N = 6,481). Logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between multimorbidity and types of chronic diseases and fair/poor self-rated memory. Compared to respondents with no or one chronic disease, respondent…
Loneliness and Psychological Distress Among Older Californians
Loneliness was the most consistent stressor affecting multiple life domains. However, our findings demonstrate that stress proliferation is occurring among older immigrant adults and the interplay between loneliness, citizenship status, and English proficiency is contributing to heightened distress. Further attention is needed in understanding the role of multiple stressors influencing mental health among immigrant older adults
How Age and Life Stage of Relocation Fosters Social Belonging
Objectives The presumed “ossification effect” of the past on older generations remains influential in the scholarship on aging and migration, orienting scholars to highlight the vulnerability of senior migrants in new societies. As a result, the ability of older generations to adapt to receiving societies has been underestimated and largely undifferentiated, and little is known about how age and life stage at arrival matter for how older individu…
Gender, Personality, and Cognitive Resilience Against Early-Life Disadvantage
Personality factors may convey resilience among individuals who experienced ELD, potentially breaking the link between ELD and worse late-life cognition. Structural factors and gender roles may affect how much women benefit from personality factors
Immigration, Racialization, and Asian American Older Adults’ Cognitive Difficulties
The differential pattern of cognitive difficulties among AAOA reveals a fuller picture of variations within AAOA by immigration status. The results imply that more research is needed to develop culturally sensitive practices that account for the racialized differences by AAOA's immigration status. Further research into the interplay between structural determinants is necessary to formulate practice and policy interventions to address better succe…
Correlates of SuperAging in Two Population-Based Samples of Hispanic Older Adults
Increasing access to education and recognizing/treating depressive symptoms represent potential pathways to preserve episodic memory among older Hispanic adults
Lives in Motion
Gendered Marital Power, Depression, and Cognition Among Older Adults in Mexico
Objectives As Mexico rapidly ages, population-level cognitive issues and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia are projected to increase. Limited social welfare positions family members—especially spouses—as the main support resource. Although past research suggests marital power imbalances relate with increased depression among Mexican older adults, how marital power imbalance relates with cognition and gender differences therein remains unde…
Associations between low food security and subjective memory complaints among Latino adults
Experiences of low food security were related with more frequent memory complaints. Subjective memory complaints are related with future cognitive impairment and dementia, making them important early markers of cognitive problems. Future studies should evaluate potential cognitive benefits of addressing food insecurity and its downstream effects on mental health
Psychology (22 works) · Cognition (19 works) · Medicine (19 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (18 works) · Gerontology (17 works) · Population (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Developmental psychology (11 works) · Demography (10 works) · Demography (10 works)