---
_id: '46540'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Individual cognitive functioning declines over time. We seek to understand
    how adverse physical health shocks in older ages contribute to this development.
    By use of event-study methods and data from the USA, England and several countries
    in Continental Europe we find evidence that health shocks lead to an immediate
    and persistent decline in cognitive functioning. This robust finding holds in
    all regions representing different health insurance systems and seems to be independent
    of underlying individual demographic characteristics such as sex and age. We also
    ask whether variables that are susceptible to policy action can reduce the negative
    consequences of a health shock. Our results suggest that neither compulsory education
    nor retirement regulations moderate the effects, thus emphasizing the importance
    of maintaining good physical health in old age for cognitive functioning.
author:
- first_name: Valentin
  full_name: Schiele, Valentin
  id: '53779'
  last_name: Schiele
- first_name: Hendrik
  full_name: Schmitz, Hendrik
  id: '48879'
  last_name: Schmitz
citation:
  ama: 'Schiele V, Schmitz H. <i>Understanding Cognitive Decline in Older Ages: The
    Role of Health Shocks</i>. Vol 919. RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung,
    Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen;
    2021.'
  apa: 'Schiele, V., &#38; Schmitz, H. (2021). <i>Understanding cognitive decline
    in older ages: The role of health shocks</i> (Vol. 919). RWI - Leibniz-Institut
    für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University
    of Duisburg-Essen.'
  bibtex: '@book{Schiele_Schmitz_2021, series={ Ruhr Economic Papers}, title={Understanding
    cognitive decline in older ages: The role of health shocks}, volume={919}, publisher={RWI
    - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund
    University, University of Duisburg-Essen}, author={Schiele, Valentin and Schmitz,
    Hendrik}, year={2021}, collection={ Ruhr Economic Papers} }'
  chicago: 'Schiele, Valentin, and Hendrik Schmitz. <i>Understanding Cognitive Decline
    in Older Ages: The Role of Health Shocks</i>. Vol. 919.  Ruhr Economic Papers.
    RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund
    University, University of Duisburg-Essen, 2021.'
  ieee: 'V. Schiele and H. Schmitz, <i>Understanding cognitive decline in older ages:
    The role of health shocks</i>, vol. 919. RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung,
    Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen,
    2021.'
  mla: 'Schiele, Valentin, and Hendrik Schmitz. <i>Understanding Cognitive Decline
    in Older Ages: The Role of Health Shocks</i>. RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung,
    Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen,
    2021.'
  short: 'V. Schiele, H. Schmitz, Understanding Cognitive Decline in Older Ages: The
    Role of Health Shocks, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University
    Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen, 2021.'
date_created: 2023-08-16T10:47:00Z
date_updated: 2023-08-20T17:53:54Z
department:
- _id: '281'
- _id: '475'
intvolume: '       919'
keyword:
- Cognitive decline
- health shocks
- retirement
- education
- event study
language:
- iso: eng
publisher: RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum,
  TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen
series_title: ' Ruhr Economic Papers'
status: public
title: 'Understanding cognitive decline in older ages: The role of health shocks'
type: working_paper
user_id: '53779'
volume: 919
year: '2021'
...