Money struggles may accelerate brain aging, especially in men, according to a study conducted by University College London. The research analyzed data from 2,759 individuals participating in the 1946 British cohort study. Participants with consistent low income, falling within the bottom 20% at least twice, were identified as facing financial hardship, which affected about one in six individuals in the study. Financial hardship was defined as difficulties in managing expenses or paying bills.
Individuals who endured persistent financial struggles or poverty in early and middle adulthood exhibited poorer performance on cognitive assessments at age 53. Among those who underwent brain scans, it was observed that individuals with lower incomes had compromised brain health, showing a decline of 69 to 71, with the association being more pronounced in men.
Researchers propose that financial difficulties could subject cognitive processing systems to chronic stress, potentially leading to accelerated brain aging. Professor Praveetha Patalay from UCL emphasized the importance of providing support to individuals facing financial challenges to mitigate cognitive decline and reduce future dementia cases.
The study also suggested that financial burdens in adulthood might occupy cognitive bandwidth in brain regions responsible for functions like attention and decision-making. Data on financial adversity was sourced from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, which assessed household income at ages 26, 43, and 53.
Men who experienced adverse childhoods and continued to face financial hardships in adulthood were identified as the most susceptible to accelerated brain aging. The study, published in Innovations in Aging, highlighted the significance of assisting vulnerable households, especially amidst the current cost-of-living crisis.
Dr. Jacques Wels, from UCL’s unit for lifelong health and aging, noted that long-term accumulation of financial hardship over several years was more strongly linked to negative cognitive health outcomes than sporadic episodes of adversity. The findings underscored the need to address modifiable risk factors to potentially delay or prevent around 45% of dementia cases globally.
Dr. Richard Oakley, associate director at the Alzheimer’s Society, emphasized that dementia is not solely a health issue but also a social and economic concern. He stressed the importance of promoting healthier lifestyles and addressing inequalities to safeguard brain health and reduce dementia incidence. Oakley urged for increased public health focus on dementia to provide necessary support post-diagnosis and minimize its impact on the population.