HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – New research suggests a link between senior victims of financial crimes and their brain health.
University of Southern California brain health researcher Duke Han discovered that poor financial decisions could be one of the earliest signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Han analyzed the brains of 18- to 94-year-olds and found a significant thinning in areas of the brain used for critical thinking in those 60 and older.
“What’s interesting is that this is in older adults who are not showing significant signs of cognitive impairment or memory problems,” Han said.
Han explained the warning signs: “Miss paying bills on time, they might end up making purchases they don’t normally make, they might be giving away large sums of money to strangers or charities that they’ve never done before.”
Han says social isolation is one of the biggest risk factors.
If you suspect your loved one’s a victim of elder fraud, document the wrongdoing and call 911.
In this episode of “Muthaship,” Han explains the warning signs and risk factors, plus tips and exercises seniors can do to stay sharp.
“Muthaship” with Stephanie Lum is available to view on HNN’s streaming app or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
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