OBJECTIVES: Higher social engagement has positive impact on cognitive outcomes in high income countries among older adults; but it is unclear that this positive association remains in middle- or low-income countries. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between social engagement and cognitive function among Mexican older adults using representative sample from the Mexican Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study.

METHODS: Cognitive functions were identified using a standardized cognitive score that reflects the respondent's cognitive function based on various measures including immediate and delayed word recall, orientation, executive functioning, arithmetic ability and object naming. Control variables include age, gender, education, urbanicity, income and health conditions. Social engagement was constructed based on marital status, living arrangements, frequency of contact with family and friends, and participation in social and cultural activities. The association between cognitive functioning and social engagement is examined by multivariable regression. Interaction terms were added to test whether there is socioeconomic disparity in the relationship between social engagements and cognitive functioning.

RESULTS: A total of 2042 participants are included in the analysis. The overall average standardized cognitive score is 0.99 (SD = 4.908) among Mexican elderly adults. Gender and rural-urban differences were found in the standardized cognitive score (man: 0.45, woman: 1.41, p-value < 0.001). Elderly who have stroke and arthritis are more likely to have worse cognitive functioning. Older adults with higher levels of social engagements have significantly better cognitive functioning comparing to those with lower level of social engagement (β=2.23; 95% CI: 1.46 to 3.01). There is no significant socioeconomic disparity in the relationship between social engagements and cognitive function.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, higher social engagement levels have a positive association with better cognitive functioning among Mexican elderly adults. Socioeconomic disparity is not found in the relationship between cognitive function and social engagement.