b'AGING IN THE 21ST CENTURYAn important aspect of health behaviors issmoking in Mexico in 2001 is 27%, but onlyDifferences in Cognitive that different countries are at different stages15.6% in the US. The percent of former smokersFunctioning of adopting health habits. For example, currentin Mexico is 64% and 72% in the US. In Mexico,In contrast to the finding that physical health elderly cohorts in the US are more likely to havethose with more schooling are more likely tois worse in the US than in England, Americans ever smoked than European cohorts. In 2004,smoke whereas schooling is negatively associatedappear to have better cognitive functioning than Europeans were more likely to be current smokerswith smoking in the US. A trend toward reducedtheir English counterparts (Langa et al. 2009). than Americans, but the percentage of formerlevels of obesity appears to have begun in the US,Americans score significantly higher on delayed smokers is significantly higher in the US than inbut not in Mexico. Despite this, there appearsrecall and somewhat higher on the measure of Europe (Michaud et al. 2011). to be a higher level of onset and developmentimmediate recall. Comparing cognitive function Comparative data in Mexico have alsoof disability over a two-year period in the USof those aged 65 to 74 years to the oldest group allowed researchers to compare the impact of the(Gerst-Emerson et al. 2015). (85 and older), the cross-country differences are transitioning health risks in relatively low- andOther research uses these data resourcesespecially large for the oldest oldcomparable to high-income countries. Monteverde et al. (2010)to investigate the well-documented paradox ofabout 10 years of aging. This is surprising given assess the magnitude of excess mortality duebetter-than-expected health among Hispanicsthat US adults have a significantly higher prev-to obesity and overweight in Mexico and thein the US despite lower SES on average thanalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors US using two waves of HRS and MHAS. In bothnon-Hispanic whites. Aguila et al. (2013) exploreslike hypertension which are significant risks for countries, excess body weight is a significant riskthe possibility that Mexicans in the US returncognitive decline. Part of the explanation for factor for death among those aged 60 and older,to Mexico due to poor health as an explanationthese differences may be higher levels of educa-but the mortality risk associated with obesity isfor the health paradox. They compare the healthtion and wealth in the US compared to England. much larger in Mexico than in the US. Despiteof Mexicans living in the US and Mexico fromAmericans are also more likely than the English the fact that Americans with higher BMI have athe 2003 wave of MHAS and the 2004 HRS. Theto be taking medications for hypertension, which higher prevalence of chronic diseases than theirevidence is mixed across health outcomes andcan lower risk of stroke and may help cognitive Mexican counterparts, mortality associated withdoes not provide a readyfunction. these diseases is higher in Mexico. Part of thisexplanation for theA similar comparative study uses more recent disparity could be due to better treatmentHispanic healthdata from the 2010 wave of HRS and ELSA, and of disease in the US.paradox. includes information from the first wave of TILDA The US may be further along in a transition from less to more healthy lifestyles associated withAmericans are also more likely than the social and economic development.English to be taking medications for Transitions in smoking and physicalhypertension, which can lower risk of stroke activity are moving toward healthier lifestyles among older adults in theand may help cognitive function.US, but not in Mexico (Wong et al. 2008). The percentage of men currently 74'