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The common worry that can age your brain faster and increase Alzheimer’s risk
The Independent • • health
Key Points:
- A UCL study found that persistent financial struggles are linked to faster brain ageing, with a stronger impact on men, individuals from disadvantaged childhoods, and those with a higher genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Analysis of data from 2,759 UK participants showed that those with persistent low income in early and middle adulthood performed worse on cognitive tests at age 53 and had poorer brain health in scans.
- Researchers suggest that chronic financial hardship may cause stress affecting brain areas responsible for attention and decision-making, leading to cognitive impairments over time.
- The study highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable households and reducing poverty to potentially prevent cognitive decline and future dementia cases, especially amid the current cost-of-living crisis.
- Experts emphasize that dementia is influenced by social and economic factors, and addressing modifiable risks and inequalities is crucial for reducing dementia prevalence and improving brain health outcomes.
