Multilingualism, socioeconomic status, urbanicity, and cognitive functioning over time among older Indian adults

Abstract INTRODUCTION Multilingualism has been associated with cognitive benefits in aging, but effects may depend on socioeconomic and environmental contexts. We examined whether life course socioeconomic status (SES) and urbanicity influence associations between multilingualism and cognitive trajectories. METHODS Data came from 4091 older adults in the Longitudinal Aging Study in India–Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia, a nationally representative study of cognitive aging. Participants completed a neuropsychological battery at baseline and follow‐up (M = 4.7 years). Linear mixed‐effects models assessed associations among multilingualism, SES, and urbanicity with cognitive performance and decline. RESULTS Multilingualism, higher SES, and urban residence were each associated with better baseline cognition. Among multilingual people, benefits were strongest among high‐SES and urban individuals, while reduced/absent among low‐SES rural individuals. Multilingualism did not slow cognitive decline. DISCUSSION Multilingualism's cognitive benefits are context dependent, shaped by socioeconomic and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of considering broader inequalities when evaluating cognitive resilience in linguistically diverse populations.