According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly seven million Americans, age 65 and over, are living with Alzheimer’s disease. And countless more are concerned about developing the disease.
A new study suggests a new sign that loved ones can watch out for, which may suggest a problem much earlier.
Senior scams are common, and for some time, it’s been noted that older adults with cognitive impairment may suddenly make poor financial decisions or become victims of a scam.
But new research now says that could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our study shows that thinning of a brain region known to deteriorate first in Alzheimer’s disease called the entorhinal cortex is also associated with financial vulnerability in older adults without any cognitive impairment,” said USC Dornsife Researcher Dr. Duke Han.
Han says that the area of the brain helps us imagine future outcomes and assess value.
Therefore, he says a thinning of that region may explain why certain older adults might test cognitively normal while also making poor financial choices.
The research suggests seeing those changes in an older adult could be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
“If an older adult starts showing some poor financial decisions, it might actually be a reason to pursue further testing for Alzheimer’s disease,” Han said.
Researchers caution that not everyone with Alzheimer’s is going to make poor financial decisions, and not everyone who makes bad choices with money is going to develop the disease.
But they say this study may alert relatives to cognitive problems earlier so treatment and support can be put in place sooner.
Experts say an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia can be beneficial to the patient and those caring for them.
In addition to impacting treatment options, it allows more time to make care decisions and process the diagnosis emotionally.
