Regional and Social Differences in Dementia-Free Life Expectancy (Demfle) in India

Poulami Barman , University of Rostock Institute for Sociology and demography
Gabriele Doblhammer, University of Rostock Institute for Sociology and demography
Nandita Saikia, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Globally Dementia is a substantial public health concern and its impact on the aging population is of rapidly growing importance. Previous research has predominantly established social differences in life expectancy (LE) in India reflecting the country’s complex socio-demographic landscape, but there is a paucity of research on dementia health expectancies from low and middle-income countries like India. We have used the Longitudinal Aging Study of India – Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI-DAD) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5) data for investigating this study. The motivation for this research arises from our preliminary findings that LE at age 60 and above in India varies considerably across castes, and religious communities and so does the dementia prevalence that has confirmed the social differences across India. So, our hypotheses posit that castes and religious groups with higher LE will also tend to exhibit longer dementia-free life expectancy (DemFLE) at later ages. In this preliminary analysis, we aim to project the remaining life expectancies at age 60 across various social groups. Subsequently, in the second stage, to be completed prior to the conference, we will integrate these life expectancy estimates with the prevalence data for dementia. If our final findings align with our expectations, it would imply that individuals from these groups not only live longer but also have extended periods of late years free from dementia. Addressing these dynamics is a significant step forward in a diverse social construction like India which will not only underscore the longevity but also the overall quality of life among India’s rapidly aging population.

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 Presented in Session P2. Health, Mortality, Ageing - Aperitivo