Being poorer might age our brains faster

Media release

Socioeconomic status may contribute to how quickly the brain ages 

Researchers provide important insight on the interplay between socioeconomic status, aging brain structure integrity, and cognitive ability. 

Recent studies have drawn links between socioeconomic status, brain structure, and cognitive abilities such as thinking, reasoning, and memory. While these studies have advanced our understanding of how these variables interact, much remains unknown. Stephanie Schrempft led a collaborative investigation out of the labs of Silvia Stringhini and Bogdan Draganski in which the household incomes, last-known occupations, and socioeconomic trajectory throughout the lives of nearly 800 adults were assessed alongside cognitive performance and new imaging indicators of brain white matter structure. White matter, which declines as we age, is important for cognitive function because it relays information between brain regions. The researchers found that people with lower household incomes had markers of advanced brain white matter aging. Lower income was also associated with diminished cognitive performance, and some markers for advanced white matter aging significantly contributed to this association. Notably, these brain structure differences did not contribute to cognition in participants with higher household incomes. These findings shed light on the relationship between our external living conditions and our brain structure and cognitive abilities as we age. At the very least, they emphasize the need for increased societal support for those with low incomes.