The general goal of this project is to investigate the mechanisms linking education to health transitions, morbidity processes and mortality outcomes at advanced ages. In particular, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the observed gradual decline in the effect of education at older ages comparing this effect in the very different institutional and socioeconomic contexts of the U.S. and Mexico. We emphasize the role of health-related selection processes, the effects of early life events, parental background, and intergenerational transmissions of human capital on health status in later life, and especially at old age.
The specific aims of the project are to: develop comparative indicators of health status for older people based in part on biomarkers; develop a cross-national typology of education that goes beyond simple counts of years of schooling; map how the magnitude of the relationship between education and health outcomes changes with age; consider the role of differential selection on the convergence &morbidity and mortality trajectories; and, assess how differences in education imprint on the aging process, its disease burden and disability in the U.S. and Mexico.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG023370-02
Application #
6804428
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SNEM-2 (50))
Program Officer
Patmios, Georgeanne E
Project Start
2003-09-30
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2004-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$313,998
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Alley, Dawn E; Soldo, Beth J; Pagan, Jose A et al. (2009) Material resources and population health: disadvantages in health care, housing, and food among adults over 50 years of age. Am J Public Health 99 Suppl 3:S693-701
Kohler, Iliana V; Soldo, Beth J (2005) Childhood predictors of late-life diabetes: the case of Mexico. Soc Biol 52:112-31