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The study analyzed data from over 60,000 people aged 50 and over from 27 countries (SHARE data).

The most important findings at a glance:

The context is crucial: In social democratic and post-socialist states, women have a significantly lower risk of below-average cognitive performance (such as memory and verbal fluency) than men.

The role of social integration: In familialist and post-socialist regimes, women are more often found in the lowest level of social integration. They often take on family care responsibilities, which can limit opportunities for broader social participation.

The hidden advantage: In conservative and familialist welfare states, no cognitive gender differences were found at first glance. However, when social integration is taken into account in the models, a cognitive advantage for women also emerges here.

Conclusion: Social integration is a key factor that partially explains gender differences in cognition - especially in societies with more traditional role models. The results underline the importance of promoting social participation in old age politically and socially in order to support cognitive health for all.

Link to the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119070