Saito Y, et al. - Researchers used two nationally representative studies—Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging and the US Health and Retirement Study—to compare cognitive performance among Japanese (n = 1,953) and American (n = 2,959) people, aged 68 years and older. In addition, they assessed if variations can be explained by differences in the distribution of risk factors or in their link with cognitive performance. They used immediate and delayed word recall and serial 7s to determine episodic memory and arithmetic working memory. Higher scores on episodic memory were noted in Americans vs Japanese individuals; however, no difference was found between these 2 populations when education was controlled. Compared with the US, a higher level of working memory was identified in Japan. Americans exhibited a stronger impact of education on working memory in comparison to Japanese people. Findings revealed modest overall differences in cognitive functioning between the United States and Japan, despite huge variations in educational achievement and a strong influence of education on cognitive functioning. There seemed little influence of health differences on national disparities in cognition.