There is a belief that as people age they place a greater burden on their country’s healthcare system and economy. However, new research from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis has revealed that the impact of chronological aging is uneven around the world.

Based on this study, which appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, individuals who reside in more affluent countries are often able to live healthy and productive lives much longer than those in less fortunate nations. This is due to the fact that wealthier countries can afford to invest in early and sustained health and education programs.

For instance, the cognitive ability of memory recall was found to be greater in nations that placed an emphasis on education, health and nutrition standards. Researchers learned that in the U.S. and Northern Europe, cognitive function was higher for people over the age of 65, compared to the same populations in China, India and Mexico.

"Even though Europe and the U.S. may be chronologically older they are 'functionally' younger," said Vegard Skirbekk, the study’s lead author.

Individuals who are curious to see how their cognitive abilities are changing with age may want to take an IQ test and find out.