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Changes in financial behavior can be an early sign of dementia – often years before diagnosis. An unusual approach that could not only extend the lives of those affected, but also ensure their quality of life.
- In the video: Do you have dementia? You can find out with this test
It often starts unspectacularly: a forgotten bill, an unnecessary purchase or an unusually large amount of cash being withdrawn from the account. What seem to many like careless mistakes could be a warning sign of something much deeper – the gradual onset of a neurodegenerative disease such as dementia.
In Germany, around 1.8 million people live with dementia, many of them with Alzheimer’s.
How finances can indicate dementia
Researchers at Duke University and the University of Southern California have about found out in a studythat beginning cognitive changes occur up to five years before one Dementia diagnosis can be reflected in everyday financial behavior. And that opens up a completely new approach to early detection – with far-reaching implications for prevention, medical care and the extension of a self-determined life.
Nils Behrens is one of the best-known longevity experts in German-speaking countries and host of the podcast HEALTHWISE. In over 350 interviews, he addresses the question of how we can live longer, healthier lives. In his free time he is a passionate runner, triathlete and padel player. He is part of us EXPERTS Circle. The content represents his personal opinion based on his individual expertise.
What changes as the brain ages
The idea is as obvious as it is new: Our financial behavior follows clear patterns – automated transfers, constant spending behavior, regular saving. When these patterns change, it is initially hardly noticeable to outsiders. But algorithms and analysis of transaction data can detect these deviations.
The data examined showed that affected people were more likely to:
- Forgot or paid bills late
- made unusual or impulsive spending
- suddenly racked up credit card debt
- There were suspicions of fraud or financial exploitation
These behavioral changes can be a reflection of impairments in short-term memory, impulse control, risk awareness – anything typical early signs of cognitive disorders.
What you can do now
The approach is not yet intended for widespread use, but the first pilot projects are already underway. If you want to proactively protect yourself, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Regularly observe yourself or close relatives in their handling of finances
- Don’t make unusual expenses or changes in behavior taboo, but rather address them
- Seek medical diagnostics early, especially if you have a family history
- Use digital health and longevity check-ups to holistically understand the biological aging process
The idea that our credit card bills provide clues about our mental well-being may seem jarring at first. But that is exactly where the potential lies: non-invasive, data-based medicine that allows not only to prolong health, but also to actively shape it. For aging with dignity – and with a clear head.
