Watch your bank account. A healthy bottom line might just be protecting your brain.
A recent study published in the journal Innovation in Aging found an association between financial distress and cognitive decline. The British study followed more than 3,000 individuals from birth to age 74, a remarkably long period for such research.
Some research subjects also underwent brain scans.
All were asked about their financial situation at different points in their lives. Among the questions was whether they had struggled to pay for their basic needs, which they were asked at ages 36, 43 and 53. They were also queried about income levels.
The study assessed participants’ mental sharpness using tests that included timed letter search and word recall to measure memory.
Scientists found that financial hardship was associated with lower test scores by age 53. That’s earlier than most people expect to start facing cognitive problems associated with aging.
Repeated financial hardship tended to magnify memory and mental processing problems.
Brain scans also revealed a similar story. At ages 69 to 71, those scans showed that people with persistent low income had brains with larger fluid-filled spaces. These spaces grow as brain tissue shrinks. That can lead to cognitive decline.
Carriers of a gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease experienced the worst declines in the study.
Why financial problems may play a role in cognitive decline isn’t certain. But stress is known to affect brain health.
It’s also important to remember that the study shows an association but does not demonstrate cause and effect.
Still, save your pennies and don’t overspend. Your brain just might thank you.