Schooling

Schooling is linked with better cognitive function in humans (increasing schooling from never attended to primary) (between 0.01 and 0.13 SDs in China, 0.01 and 0.06 SDs in Ghana, 0.02 and 0.09 SDs in India, 0.02 and 0.12 SDs in Mexico, and 0 and 0.07 SDs in South Africa).

“An additional year of schooling increased word-recall scores by between 0.01 and 0.13 SDs in China, 0.01 and 0.06 SDs in Ghana, 0.02 and 0.09 SDs in India”

Humansincreasing schooling from never attended to primaryn = 30,896

Causal Effects of Schooling on Memory at Older Ages in Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Nonparametric Evidence With Harmonized Datasets

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·Mar 22, 2025

Schooling is linked with better memory scores in humans (at most 0.12 SDs).

“an extra grade of schooling is associated with memory scores that are higher by at most 0.12 standard deviations (SDs) in China”

Humans

CAUSAL EFFECTS OF SCHOOLING ON MEMORY AT OLDER AGES IN FIVE LOW- AND-MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

GSA 2024 abstract·Dec 31, 2024

Schooling was not clearly linked with age-related differences in cognitive performance in humans (Tsimane forager-horticulturalists).

“has no attenuating effect on cognitive performance in late adulthood”

HumansTsimane forager-horticulturalists49.9% femalesn = 919

Cognitive performance across the life course of Bolivian forager-farmers with limited schooling

Developmental psychology·Sep 1, 2016

Schooling is linked with longer life expectancy in humans (compared with low levels of schooling (less than 10 years)) (about 3 years longer).

“high levels of schooling (at least 13 years of schooling) are associated with about three years longer life expectancy at age 60”

Humanscompared with low levels of schooling (less than 10 years)at least 13 years of schooling

The Effect of Schooling on Mortality: New Evidence From 50,000 Swedish Twins

Demography·Jul 10, 2016

Schooling is associated with cognitive function in humans with basic covariates (40% of the variance).

“Own schooling, with basic covariates, is associated with 40% of the variance in global HCAP scores.”

Humanswith basic covariatesn = 1,791

Own and parental schooling, gender, and cognitive performance based on the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) among older Chilean adults

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·Jul 25, 2025

Schooling is associated with cognitive function in humans (Tsimane forager-horticulturalists; controlling for sex).

“Schooling is associated with greater cognitive abilities at all ages controlling for sex”

HumansTsimane forager-horticulturalists; controlling for sex49.9% femalesn = 919

Cognitive performance across the life course of Bolivian forager-farmers with limited schooling

Developmental psychology·Sep 1, 2016

Schooling is associated with cognitive change in humans Across 18 states and union territories in India (Schooling-by-geography interaction: change-score F = 2.97, P < .001; analysis of covariance F = 4.11, P < .001).

“The schooling-by-geography interaction was significant in both specifications”

HumansAcross 18 states and union territories in IndiaWave 1, 2017–2019; wave 2, 2022–2024n = 2,510

Schooling’s link to cognitive change varied across India

medRxiv·Oct 28, 2026Preprint

Schooling is associated with cognitive abilities in humans.

“Our estimated upper bounds on the population average effects indicate potentially large causal effects of increasing schooling from primary to secondary.”

Humans

Does Schooling Improve Cognitive Abilities at Older Ages? Causal Evidence From Nonparametric Bounds

Demography·Mar 28, 2025

Schooling is associated with longevity in humans.

“we demonstrate a positive and statistically significant relationship between years of schooling and longevity.”

Humans

The Effect of Schooling on Mortality: New Evidence From 50,000 Swedish Twins

Demography·Jul 10, 2016