The project addresses major gaps in existing research on cognitive aging by 1) characterizing age-related cognitive change over the full life span, 2) assessing social disparities in cognitive aging by sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status as well as other social stressors, and 3) exploring biological mechanisms by which social factors are linked to cognitive health and dementia risk. The foundation for this project is the construction of longitudinal cohort data that spans the adult life course. We address challenges in previous research using single panel data with an extensive longitudinal life course research design and a novel application of integrative data analysis (IDA) to determine for the first time the trajectory of cognitive aging throughout life in Americans aged 12 and older, and main demographic and socioeconomic differentials therein
