The Impact of Social Security Income on Cognitive Function at Older Ages / Padmaja Ayyagari, David Frisvold.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ayyagari, Padmaja, 1978-

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Frisvold, David E.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w21484.

NBER working paper series no. w21484

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2015.

Summary:

Prior literature has documented a positive association between income and cognitive function at older ages, however, the extent to which this association represents causal effects is unknown. In this study, we use an exogenous change in Social Security income due to amendments to the Social Security Act in the 1970s to identify the causal impact of Social Security income on cognitive function of elderly individuals. We find that higher benefits led to significant improvements in cognitive function and that these improvements in cognition were clinically meaningful. Our results suggest that interventions even at advanced ages can slow the rate of decline in cognitive function.

Notes:

Print version record

August 2015.