Early Book Access and Cognitive Aging
Longitudinal Evidence on Cognitive Advantages and Rates of Decline
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12797694 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Haosen Sun (0000-0003-2907-0443, University of Nevada, Reno, corresponding author), Yueming Xi (0000-0001-7509-6295, University of Toronto) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 8982643261423253-8982643261423253 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-05 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Aging and Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1552-6887 • E-ISSN: 0898-2643 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/08982643261423253 |
| PMID | 41641737 |
| OpenAlex | W7128046731 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
Purpose of the ResearchUsing longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we examined whether childhood book environment is associated with higher cognitive functioning and better cognitive maintenance later in life, especially among individuals with lower education.Major FindingsAmong 86,619 adults aged 60+ (226,515 person-wave observations from Waves 4-8, with retrospective childhood circumstances from Waves 3 and 7), even modest childhood access to 11-25 books is associated with higher overall cognition levels, independent of education and other covariates, with greater benefits observed in less-educated adults. Book-rich environments are also associated with a more favorable cognitive trajectory over time, particularly for more educated adults, given the potential for steeper late-life decline.ConclusionsFindings support a critical period model of higher cognitive functioning and a cumulative advantage model of longitudinal change, which also align with reserve-depletion patterns
Cognition · Cognitive aging · Cognitive decline · Cognitive development · Cognitive skill · Longitudinal data · Longitudinal study · Aging and Gerontology Research · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Reading and Literacy Development
The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults
Cognitive reserve in ageing and Alzheimer's disease
Home literacy environments and children's reading performance
Aging and Cumulative Inequality
Whitepaper
What is cognitive reserve? Theory and research application of the reserve concept
“Mini-mental state”
Data Resource Profile
Scholarly Culture and Academic Performance in 42 Nations
Socioeconomic Position Across the Life Course and Cognitive Ability Later in Life
Childhood Living Conditions, Socioeconomic Position in Adulthood, and Cognition in Later Life
Childhood Book Availability Helps to Preserve Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Low Education
The Effect of Childhood Socioeconomic Position and Social Mobility on Cognitive Function and Change Among Older Adults
Can We Trust Older People’s Statements on Their Childhood Circumstances? Evidence from SHARELIFE
Life course epidemiology
Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage and the Life Course
Scholarly culture
| Highly cited | No |
|---|