Persistent financial hardship is associated with faster cognitive decline and poorer brain health in later life, according to a new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL). Published in Innovation in Aging, the study analysed data from 2,759 participants in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (the 1946 British birth cohort), following individuals from early adulthood into older age. Unlike previous research that measured financial hardship at a single point in time, this study examined financial experiences over several decades, providing a clearer picture of the long-term effects of chronic financial adversity.
Researchers found that individuals who experienced persistent financial hardship or consistently low income during early and middle adulthood performed worse on cognitive tests by age 53. Among participants who later underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), those with persistent low income also showed poorer brain health between the ages of 69 and 71, including greater brain shrinkage. These findings remained significant even after accounting for childhood cognitive ability, educational attainment, and early-life socioeconomic disadvantage.
According to lead author Dr Jacques Wels, the accumulation of financial hardship over many years, rather than isolated episodes of financial difficulty, appears to have the greatest impact on cognitive health. Senior author Professor Praveetha Patalay suggested that reducing chronic poverty and providing greater support for people experiencing financial hardship may help lower the future burden of cognitive decline and dementia.
The association between financial adversity and poorer brain health was particularly strong among men, individuals who experienced childhood disadvantage, and those carrying the APOE-ε4 genetic variant, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Men with persistent financial hardship also performed more poorly on midlife cognitive tests than women in similar circumstances. Researchers suggest this may reflect differences in health behaviours, such as smoking and alcohol use, as well as greater financial stress among men in this generation, many of whom were the primary household earners.
Several mechanisms may explain the relationship between long-term financial hardship and cognitive ageing. Chronic financial stress can increase inflammation, a biological process known to accelerate brain ageing. Constant concerns about money may also increase cognitive load, leaving fewer mental resources available for memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. Although participants experiencing persistent financial hardship showed slower memory decline between ages 53 and 69, researchers believe this likely reflects earlier cognitive losses rather than protection against further decline.
Household income was measured at ages 26, 43, and 53, with participants classified as having persistent low income if they fell within the lowest 20% on at least two occasions. Financial hardship was assessed between ages 36 and 53 using questions about managing household finances and paying bills. Cognitive performance was evaluated through verbal memory and processing speed tests, while MRI scans measured indicators of brain health, including brain atrophy and ventricular enlargement. The findings highlight the importance of addressing long-term financial insecurity as part of strategies to promote healthy brain ageing and reduce dementia risk.
More information: Yiwen Liu et al, Persistent financial adversity and cognitive aging: a life course investigation, Innovation in Aging. DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igag054
Journal information: Innovation in Aging Provided by University College London
