Family caregiving job disruptions and later life cognition: Intersections of race/ethnicity and gender

BackgroundContinuous paid work supports cognitive health, but employment disruptions, especially among historically marginalized groups, may increase the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Limited evidence exists on the relationship between caregiving-related job disruptions and cognitive outcomes, which may exacerbate disparities in ADRD risk.ObjectiveThis study examines the association between caregiving-related job disruptions and late-life cognitive outcomes, with a focus on gender and racial/ethnic differences.MethodsData from 7759 U.S. adults aged 55 and older in the 2018 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Life History Mail Survey (LHMS) were analyzed. Employment disruptions were classified as caregiving-related, other reasons, or continuous employment. Sequence analysis summarized employment history patterns, and multivariable linear regression models evaluated the association between the years of caregiving-related job disruptions between ages 18 and 50 and cognitive function scores at ages 55 and older, adjusting for demographic covariates.ResultsWomen experienced more caregiving-related job disruptions than men (0.57 versus 0.04 years, p < 0.001), and Hispanics had more disruptions than non-Hispanic Whites (0.84 versus 0.28 years, p = 0.01). Caregiving-related disruptions were significantly associated with lower cognitive scores among non-Hispanic White males, non-Hispanic Black males, and non-Hispanic Black females, but not among non-Hispanic White females or Hispanic males and females.ConclusionsCaregiving-related job disruptions may contribute to cognitive decline, particularly among non-Hispanic White males and non-Hispanic Black caregivers. Targeted policies and interventions addressing these disparities are essential to reduce ADRD risk across diverse caregiving populations.