The proverb “poverty makes one age quickly” is well-known to many. But is it simply that living a hard life makes people appear older, or does it truly leave its mark on the brain?
A study conducted by University College London (UCL) tracked a group of British individuals for decades. The results revealed that individuals who experienced long-term low income or repeated financial difficulties during adulthood showed poorer memory and information processing speed by the age of 53. Looking further ahead, those with sustained low income between the ages of 69 to 71 also displayed more signs related to brain atrophy on brain scans.
The data for this study was quite unique as the participants were all born in 1946 and were part of a long-term tracking study in the UK since birth. As of this year, these individuals are now 80 years old.
The study analyzed data from 2,759 individuals, including their family income at the ages of 26, 43, and 53. If their income ranked in the lowest 20% at least twice in the three surveys, they were considered to have experienced “sustained low income,” which accounted for approximately one out of every six individuals.
Income is just a number, as researchers also looked at a more practical aspect of daily life: whether the money was enough to meet basic needs. Could income cover living expenses? Were bills paid without difficulty? Between the ages of 36 and 53, about one in every eight individuals repeatedly encountered such economic hardships.
At the age of 53, participants underwent tests on language memory and information processing speed. The results showed that individuals with long-term low income or repeated financial difficulties in adulthood performed worse on average.
Was it solely due to growing up in poverty with limited educational opportunities? Researchers also took this into consideration. Even after factoring in childhood cognitive abilities, educational levels, and family background, the association still remained.
Over a decade later, some participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at the ages of 69 to 71. The results revealed that individuals with sustained low income showed more signs related to brain atrophy. One noticeable sign was an enlargement of brain ventricles. These are fluid-filled spaces within the brain that tend to expand when the surrounding brain tissues atrophy.
Therefore, at the age of 53, the observed differences were in how the brain was being used; by around 70 years old, even structural differences in the brain became apparent.
However, only a few hundred individuals underwent brain scans, which was significantly fewer compared to the cognitive tests conducted earlier. Hence, these findings are better viewed as clues regarding brain structure and not for diagnosing every individual facing long-term financial difficulties.
While the study identified differences, the reasons behind these disparities are still unclear. Researchers suggested that long-term financial struggles might lead to chronic stress, affecting the brain through pathways such as inflammation. Moreover, persistent financial worries could increase cognitive load as constantly thinking about money and bills could deplete mental resources earmarked for other cognitive tasks.
But there could be more reasons behind these differences. Prolonged financial stress often involves factors like diet, sleep, medical conditions, work environments, and lifestyle choices, all of which could impact brain health.
Dr. Jacques Wels, the lead author of the study from UCL’s Division of Psychiatry and Aging, noted that previous research often focused on a single point in time. By utilizing decades of data, they found that chronic economic difficulties accumulated over the years were more closely associated with poorer cognitive health, as opposed to temporary financial hardship.
One interesting observation from the study was the stronger association between economic difficulties and poorer brain health among males. This group of individuals born in 1946 endured times when many families viewed men as the primary breadwinners.
Researchers believed that the pressures arising from these traditional family roles could be one contributing factor. Moreover, men in financially disadvantaged situations during that era were more prone to smoking, excessive drinking, behaviors which could also impact brain health.
The association between poorer childhood family conditions, carrying the APOE-ε4 gene variant, and cognitive decline was more pronounced. However, these subgroup sizes are currently limited, thus only serving as preliminary clues. APOE-ε4 is one of the genetic risk factors more clearly linked to Alzheimer’s disease, but carrying it does not guarantee developing the condition.
It is important to note that these findings are specific to a cohort of British individuals born in 1946. The employment environment, welfare systems, and family roles they experienced differ somewhat from those of today.
Another intriguing finding from the study was the unexpected results regarding memory decline among individuals facing prolonged economic hardship. While memory test scores were lower at age 53, the decline in memory slowed down from 53 to 69 years.
Does this mean that facing adversity over time leads to “anti-aging”? Certainly not. Researchers suggested that a more plausible explanation is that individuals who scored lower at 53 had less room for further decline in memory.
Professor Praveetha Patalay, a senior author of the study from UCL, also emphasized that the results hinted at how reducing long-term economic hardships could potentially help in mitigating cognitive decline and dementia in the future.
Therefore, it is not just the label of “poverty” that warrants attention, but rather the long-lasting financial burdens that might span decades: housing, meals, childcare, healthcare – one bill paid off just to see another one surface.
While we often say “worrying about money,” it appears that if this worry spans several decades, it may leave more than just wrinkles on one’s face.