Migration in later life and its association with cognitive impairment among middle-aged and older adults in India.

Vikesh Kumar, International Institute for Population Sciences, India
Ajay Murmu, Doctoral Student

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between migration in later life and its association with cognitive impairment in India. This study utilizes the data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 (2017-18), a nationwide, large-scale survey on ageing and health with a sample of 66496 middle-aged and older adults (aged 45 and above). Cognitive impairment has been taken as an outcome variable, and later life migration has been taken as the main explanatory variable (a migrant who changed their place of residence after the age of 50 years). The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was about 10% among middle-aged and older adults. It was higher among the later-life migrants (13.1%) compared to non-migrants (7.3%). Logistic estimates, which are adjusted for socioeconomic and demographic variables, found that cognitive impairment was significantly 44% higher among late-life migrants than non-migrants (AOR:1.44, CI:1.18-1.75). Further, age, sex and low socioeconomic status were negatively associated with cognitive impairment. Findings suggest that late-life migrants are more prone to cognitive impairment than non-migrants. This study can be helpful for policymakers to draw a special focus on making plans and programmes for late-life migrants.

Keywords: Internal Migration and Urbanization, Population Ageing, Health and Morbidity

See extended abstract.