Chronic Financial Hardship Linked to Faster Brain Aging

A 70-year UK study of nearly 2,800 people found that persistent financial hardship from ages 26 to 53 is linked to declines in memory and processing speed by midlife, and greater brain shrinkage by early 70s. Men, those from poorer childhoods, and APOE-ε4 carriers are most vulnerable. The study suggests reducing chronic poverty may help prevent cognitive decline.