Emigration and Cognitive Aging Among Mexican Return Migrants

This study examines the impact of migration experiences-specifically undocumented status and informal sector participation-on the cognitive aging of Mexican return migrants. Using data from 6,277 participants in the 2018 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), we assess the likelihood of dementia among return migrants relative to non-migrants. The findings reveal that undocumented return migrants who later work in Mexico's informal sector have significantly worse cognitive outcomes than both non-migrants-Mexican individuals whom never left Mexico-and undocumented return migrants working in the formal sector. Factors such as rural residency, lack of health insurance, and limited education further exacerbate cognitive decline in this population. Legal precarity, economic insecurity, and limited access to healthcare, accelerates cognitive aging for older return migrants, especially those in the informal sector. These results underscore the importance of formal sector participation, especially in contexts where healthcare access is tied to formal employment. The study adds to the growing body of research underscoring the long-term impact of migration on health and emphasizes the need for inclusive health and social policies to benefit aging vulnerable populations in both the United States and Mexico.