In the eight years leading up to a dementia diagnosis, the median U.S.

In the eight years leading up to a dementia diagnosis, the median U.S. household net worth drops to less than half that of households without dementia: $104,000, compared with $217,000.

A short article by MIT AgeLab's Dr. Joe Coughlin and Luke Yoquinto (lnkd.in/gWpRNXDy) summarizes the results of a 2023 study (Declines in Wealth Among US Older Adults at Risk of Dementia, lnkd.in/gcsXUF-d), with the stunning observation that major financial losses happen in the 8 years before a dementia diagnosis -and of course after as well, but that is more expected.

Financial mismanagement, missed payments, susceptibility to fraud and exploitation, and other warning signs are major drivers of these financial losses. They could also be used as predictive behavioral markers to promote earlier diagnosis with the right alert systems in place.

It is also a reminder that brain health is something to cherish, a priority in the quest for increased healthspan.