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News — BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Recent research by Bowling Green State University has found a clear correlation between older adults' cognitive decline and their adult child's educational levels.

Studying cognitive decline from a social perspective, BGSU sociologist Dr. Jenjira Yahirun found older adults whose children did not graduate from high school experienced early cognitive decline. In contrast, older parents whose children completed college were less likely to experience the onset of dementia.

Supported by National Institutes of Health funding, Yahirun’s study uses publicly funded, nationally representative data sets. With assistance from BGSU student researchers, she has found that when a child has less than a high school education, their parents' cognitive health suffers severely. On the other hand, parents with college-educated children are often protected from this decline.

"We often look at children and realize how much their social environments influence them," Yahirun said. "All of that is shaped by their home environment, school environment and parents' resources. We tend to forget that when we're older, our health continues to be shaped by the people around us – typically our children."

Research shows that even having one child who did not complete high school was a significant risk factor for parents. Data suggests that not completing high school was not simply the inverse of educational advantage but a "distinct stressor."

If a parent had multiple children without a high school diploma, the risk of cognitive decline increased. However, research shows that a sibling's success doesn't fully compensate. 

"While having a highly educated child can be beneficial, it doesn't entirely offset the increased risk associated with having another child who did not complete high school," Yahirun said. "Furthermore, research suggests that when all children obtain a high school diploma, parents see positive effects if their children become college educated."

While the study demonstrates a correlation between a child's education level and their parents' risk of cognitive decline, Yahirun said it doesn't necessarily prove causation. Even with a strong link, she said further research is needed to understand the mechanisms at play.