Long-Term Money Problems May Accelerate Brain Aging

A long-term UCL study of 2,759 UK adults found that persistent low income across adulthood was linked to poorer cognition by age 53.

The same pattern was associated with worse later-life brain health, including greater brain shrinkage on scans.

The effect was strongest among men, people with childhood disadvantage, and APOE-ε4 carriers.

The findings suggest chronic financial strain may speed cognitive decline and raise dementia risk, making income support a potential brain-health intervention.