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. 2025 Mar;37(3-4):156-166.
doi: 10.1177/08982643241232718. Epub 2024 Feb 27.

Is Early-Life Enrichment Associated With Better Cognitive Function Among Older Adults? Examining Home and School Environments

Mallory J Bell  1   2 , Madison R Sauerteig-Rolston  1   2 , Kenneth F Ferraro  1   2
Affiliations

Is Early-Life Enrichment Associated With Better Cognitive Function Among Older Adults? Examining Home and School Environments

Mallory J Bell et al. J Aging Health. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: We examine whether early-life enrichment, involving varied and stimulating activities to enhance cognitive function during childhood and adolescence, is associated with cognitive function in later life and whether the benefits persist over time. Methods: Growth curve models were used to examine up to five waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study-a nationally representative survey of adults 50 years and older (N = 10,070). We constructed separate measures of early-life enrichment to distinguish sources of influence (i.e., enriched home environment and enriched school environment). Global cognitive function was assessed with a modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Results: Greater enrichment in each environment was incrementally associated with better cognitive function at baseline, but enrichment was not associated with change in cognitive function over time. Discussion: Receiving enrichment from multiple environments during sensitive periods of cognitive development may be advantageous for cognitive functioning in later life.

Keywords: enriched home environment; enriched school environment; life course; sensitive period.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Relationship between two environments of early-life enrichment and baseline cognitive function among respondents with available data. Note: EHE = enriched home environment; ESE = enriched school environment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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