Long-term financial stress could have a lasting impact on brain health, with a new study linking persistent money worries to poorer memory and faster brain ageing.
Researchers analysed data from 2,759 people in the United Kingdom and found that individuals who experienced prolonged financial hardship in early and middle adulthood had lower cognitive performance by the age of 53 compared with those who had faced fewer financial difficulties.
The study found that people exposed to sustained low income or ongoing financial struggles also showed signs of greater brain atrophy by the age of 71. Researchers noted that occasional periods of hardship appeared to have less impact than years of accumulated financial pressure.
According to the researchers, chronic financial stress may affect the brain by increasing cognitive load — the mental burden created by constantly managing worries and uncertainty. This can reduce the capacity available for important functions such as concentration, decision-making and memory.
The effects appeared to be particularly pronounced among men, people who experienced disadvantaged childhoods and those with genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings highlight the importance of addressing financial hardship as a potential factor influencing long-term health. With the cost-of-living crisis increasing financial pressure on households worldwide, researchers said that reducing persistent poverty and supporting vulnerable groups could also help protect against cognitive decline and conditions such as dementia.
Dementia currently affects millions of people globally, with cases expected to rise significantly in coming decades, making research into preventable factors increasingly important.
via Euronews
