A new study has found that persistent money worries don't just strain your bank account — they can age your brain faster and raise your risk of dementia. Researchers from University College London (UCL) analysed data from nearly 2,800 people in the UK and discovered that those who faced long-term financial hardship performed worse on cognitive tests and had poorer brain health in later life. The findings come as the UK grapples with a cost-of-living crisis that is putting millions of households under financial strain.
The study, published in the journal Innovations in Aging, used data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a British cohort study that has tracked people born in 1946. Participants reported their household income at ages 26, 43 and 53. Those in the bottom 20% at least twice were classified as having persistent low income — about one in six of the group. Hardship also included struggling to manage on income or having trouble paying bills.
“How money worries accelerate brain ageing and dementia risk, based on a new UK study.”
When the participants took cognitive tests at age 53, those who had experienced persistent money problems scored worse. Brain scans taken between ages 69 and 71 showed that people with lower incomes had signs of worse brain health. The effect was especially strong among men, people who had disadvantaged childhoods, and those with a genetic variant that raises the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
This link between financial stress and brain ageing is not just about poverty at a single point. Lead author Dr Jacques Wels of UCL said: “Most studies on cognitive ageing look at financial hardship at only a single point in time. Our study using several decades of data allows us to see that it is the accumulation of hardship over many years that is linked to the worst cognitive health outcomes, rather than occasional episodes of adversity.” Researchers believe the chronic stress of money troubles may overwhelm the brain's "bandwidth" for attention and decision-making, gradually wearing down cognitive systems.
For UK readers, this matters because it means the current cost-of-living crisis could have long-term consequences for national brain health. With a record number of households reporting financial adversity, the study suggests that reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable households could help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Over 980,000 people in the UK currently live with dementia, a figure expected to rise above 1.4 million by 2040. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This study is a reminder that dementia is not just a health issue, but a social and economic one too.” He added that around 45% of dementia cases globally could potentially be delayed or prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, including socioeconomic inequalities.
Q: How exactly do money worries age the brain? A: The study suggests that chronic financial stress may consume mental "bandwidth" — the brain's capacity for attention and problem-solving — leaving less energy for other cognitive processes. Over time, this constant strain can impair memory, thinking and decision-making, leading to faster cognitive ageing.
Q: Who is most at risk from this effect? A: The link between financial hardship and worse brain health was strongest in men, people who grew up in disadvantaged childhoods, and those with a genetic variant that increases the risk of Alzheimer's. The study highlights that these groups are especially vulnerable to the cognitive toll of long-term money problems.
Q: Can anything be done to prevent these brain changes? A: The researchers argue that supporting those facing financial hardship and reducing chronic poverty could help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. This means policies that ease financial pressure — such as better social security, debt support and affordable housing — may also protect brain health. Dr Oakley emphasised that tackling wider inequalities is key to shaping better brain health for the future.
What happens next? The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking socioeconomic factors to brain health. Researchers call for further investigation into how financial support can be used as a public health intervention. In the meantime, charities like the Alzheimer’s Society urge the government to consider dementia prevention as part of its strategy to tackle poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.