Dementia and poverty are linked

Poverty increases your risk of developing dementia. Conversely, wealth lessens your chances of developing dementia.

A week or two ago, in the Journal of the

American Medical Association, five English doctors reported on a 12-year study on 6226 of their aged compatriots. Of these, 463 developed dementia.

The doctors looked into the poverty or wealth of all those over 65.

If they earned less than £15,000 ($29,000) a year, the oldies were classed as poor.

If they made £180,000 ($345,000) or more a year, or had substantial property, investments, savings, possessions, art works or jewellery, they were classed as wealthy.

Participants were also classed on the neighbourhoods they lived in, and on their education – whether they had university degrees, graduated from high school, had A-levels, or no qualifications at all. They were also divided into those born before or after 1925.

The researchers found that the standard of education and their neighbourhoods had little effect on their chances of developing dementia. By far the most important factor was the old people’s poverty or accumulated wealth.

The poorest were 1.6 times more vulnerable to dementia than the wealthiest.

The authors found that hard-up people had poorer diets, were more subject to stroke, depression, heart disease and diabetes, and had boring jobs.

The wealthy had better access to healthcare and social networks, led more stimulating lives, and had ‘‘better digital competence’’.

Curiously, inequalities were more marked in people born before or after 1925.

This was probably because life before World War II was narrower and less stimulating, but postwar life was more stimulating, more mentally demanding, and more financially rewarding for many.

Worldwide today, some 50 million people are living with dementia – there are 23m in East Asia, 11m in Europe, 10m in America, and 4m in Africa.

Currently, about 62,000 New Zealanders have dementia and those numbers are expected to skyrocket to 150,000 by 2050.

Quick! Reverse this trend by amassing plenty of properties, investments, art works, jewellery and cash.

By far the most important factor in developing dementia was the old people’s poverty or wealth.