Persistent money struggles tied to faster brain aging
A study from University College London indicates that persistent financial hardship throughout adulthood is linked to accelerated cognitive decline and brain shrinkage in later life. The research suggests that addressing chronic poverty could be a viable strategy for reducing future dementia cases.
Why it matters
This research highlights the long-term physiological impact of socioeconomic status on brain health, providing a public health argument for poverty reduction.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Persistent financial hardship accelerates age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers. The study, published in Innovation in Aging , looked at data from 2,759 people in the UK who filled out questionnaires throughout their lives as part of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (also known as the 1946 British cohort study).
The research team found that people who experienced either persistent money struggles or persistent low income in early and middle adulthood performed less well on cognitive tests by age 53.
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