Groundbreaking Study Reveals "Healthy Migrant Effect" among Older Americans

Strategic Insights -

A comprehensive study examining data from over 5 million older Americans has discovered that those who migrate within the U.S. have significantly better health outcomes compared to those who remain in their birth state. Published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, the study analyzed the prevalence of five types of disability among Americans aged 65 and older, including serious vision and hearing problems, cognitive impairment, limitations in daily activities (ADLs), and physical limitations such as difficulty walking or climbing stairs. The researchers found that older adults who relocated to a different U.S. state were significantly less likely to report all five disabilities compared to those who stayed in their natal state, even after accounting for age, sex, and race.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that older adults who migrated within the U.S. had up to 22% lower odds of disability compared to those who stayed in their birth state.
  • Controlling for education levels reduced but did not eliminate the health advantage of internal migrants, suggesting that self-selection and reverse migration may be contributing factors.
  • International immigrants who migrated to the U.S. had lower odds of disability compared to internal migrants, even after adjusting for education, age, sex, and race.
  • The study suggests that educational attainment plays a dual role in migration, both increasing the likelihood of migration and offering protection against disability.
  • The researchers found that internal migrants remained healthier even after adjusting for education, indicating that other factors such as self-selection may be at play.

Statistics:

  • 22%: The increase in odds of disability among older adults who stayed in their birth state compared to internal migrants.
  • 7-33%: The reduction in odds of disability among international immigrants compared to internal migrants, after adjusting for education, age, sex, and race.
  • 5 million: The number of older Americans examined in the study.
  • 65: The minimum age of older Americans included in the study.
  • 5 types: The number of disabilities examined in the study, including serious vision and hearing problems, cognitive impairment, limitations in daily activities (ADLs), and physical limitations.

Sources:

  • Ahlin, K., & McAlpine, A. (2025). Internal Migration and Health Outcomes among Older Americans. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
  • Fuller-Thomson, E. (2025). Addressing the Health Disparities Associated with Migration. Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto.