Older adults are at risk of committing cognitive and decision-making errors due to the decline in cognitive functions. However, the understanding of the determining factors of cognitive errors among ageing adults is limited. In this study, we explored the role of various psychiatric factors, life satisfaction, and other socioeconomic, health and behavioural risk factors of committing cognitive errors among middle-aged and older adults in India. The study utilized the data from the experimental module of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-1 (2017–2018) with a sample of 12,754 adults aged 45 years and above. The cognitive error was measured using logical fallacies committed in the activity-based experiments. The study employed descriptive, bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression models to identify the factors associated with cognitive errors among the study participants. Depression (aOR = 1.28, 99%, CI: 1.16–1.41), life satisfaction (aOR = 0.99, 99%, CI: 0.98–1.00), and cognitive impairment (aOR = 1.13, 90% CI: 1.00–1.30) self-reported psychiatric) were significantly associated with higher odds of committing cognitive errors among the middle-aged and older adults. Also, ageing adults with low educational levels, functional limitations, sleep disturbances, smoking history, living in rural areas and belonging to scheduled tribes had a higher probability of committing cognitive errors. However, involvement in physical activity, reading habits and social interactions reduced the odds of cognitive errors among this sample. Mental health and well-being indicators, including depression, life satisfaction, cognitive impairment, and other health and behavioural health factors, determine cognitive errors among ageing adults. Programs and policies should be initiated to address these factors, reduce cognitive errors, and ensure active ageing.
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