Poor Seniors May Be More Vulnerable to Dementia

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests low-income seniors may be more susceptible to developing dementia, reports HealthDay News . "Public health strategies for dementia prevention should target socioeconomic gaps to reduce health disparities and protect those who are particularly disadvantaged," says University College London's Dorina Cadar. Differences in lifestyle and overall health are contributing factors, and wealthier people have greater social and cultural opportunities allowing them to remain actively engaged with the world. The team collected data on more than 6,200 men and women aged 65 and older. Seven percent developed dementia in the 12 years between 2002-2003 and 2014-2015. The risk of dementia was 50 percent higher among the poorest people versus the most affluent. "Poor financial management may be an early sign of dementia, such that financial resources are depleted late in life," notes Dr. Dr. Sam Gandy with the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care. "This may also be a manifestation of executive thinking dysfunction, such as paying bills multiple times, or poor judgment and vulnerability to scam artists."