Cognitive Impairment in Late Life: The Role of Educational Assortative Marriage and Spousal Education

Marriage plays a key role in the exchange of resources, including education, which can affect health outcomes between partners. While the individual cognitive benefits of education are well-established, its potential spillover effects within marital relationships remain insufficiently explored, particularly in non-Western and developing contexts. Using nationally representative data from the 2014 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), this study investigates the associations between educational assortative marriage, spousal education, and late-life cognitive health among Chinese adults aged 65 and older. Results indicate that men in educationally homogamous marriages are significantly less likely to experience cognitive impairment than men in hypogamous unions and women in all marital arrangements. In addition, spousal education is positively associated with cognitive outcomes for men but not for women. These findings suggest that educational resources may be differentially linked to cognitive health within marriage, reflecting both personal and relational dimensions shaped by gender. The study calls for culturally and gender-sensitive public health and educational strategies in late life to promote cognitive well-being among aging populations.