Health

Early dementia often has a surprising warning sign, report says: 'Financial consequences'

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2024

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Early dementia often has a surprising warning sign, report says: 'Financial consequences'

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Dementia takes a costly toll on the families it affects — emotionally, physically and even financially.

In many cases, an impact on finances is one of the earliest signs of the disease, according to a new report from the New York Federal Reserve.

In analyzing 17 years of data from consumer credit agencies and Medicare databases, researchers found that a decline in credit scores and an increase in late payments are often seen in the five years prior to diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD).

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Those in the early stages of dementia may also accumulate greater debt, open new credit accounts and use multiple types of credit.

“Considering the typical progression of the disease, these findings point to financial consequences of the disease in its earliest stages, when symptoms are typically mild and not widely apparent,” the researchers wrote.

In many cases, a negative impact on finances is one of the earliest signs of the disease, according to a new report. (iStock)

“The financial consequences of ADRD prior to diagnosis steadily increase over time.”

This is particularly concerning given that older adults with dementia will likely face substantial costs for caregiving and other related expenses, the report noted.

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Monica Moreno, senior director of care and support for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, said the new report confirms what experts have already known — that challenges in managing money or personal finances are common early warning signs of dementia.

“While there are several signs or symptoms of dementia, challenges with problem-solving or planning can cause a person to mismanage their finances,” Moreno, who was not involved with the New York Fed’s report, told Fox News Digital via email.

“Other dementia-related symptoms, including decreased or poor judgment and difficulty completing familiar tasks, can also adversely affect money management or personal finances.”

“The individual may have stacks of unopened bills or may be spending an excessive amount of money.”

Early in the disease, people may struggle with more complicated tasks, like managing investments or making decisions about large purchases, Moreno noted.

“Since dementia is often a progressive condition, these challenges will increase over time,” she said. “It is important for family members to identify these potential signs early and intervene as soon as possible.”

Common warning signs

Some common signs to look for include the inability to balance a checking account, or consistently late payments on credit cards or other monthly bills, Moreno said.

“The individual may also have stacks of unopened bills or may be spending an excessive amount of money,” she said.

Some common signs to look for include the inability to balance a checking account, or consistently late payments on credit cards or other monthly bills, an expert said. (iStock)

People living with dementia are also more susceptible to financial abuse, identity theft, fraud or get-rich-quick schemes.

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“Failure to address these problems or potential threats can put individuals living with dementia at great financial risk,” Moreno warned.

5 ways families can help

“If you feel a family member is showing signs of dementia, it’s important to share your concerns and talk to a health care professional,” said Moreno. “Early diagnosis of dementia offers the best opportunity to put financial safeguards in place.”

For those whose loved ones are having difficulty managing their finances, the Alzheimer’s Association shared the following tips and strategies with Fox News Digital.

1. Discuss with the person how a trusted family member or friend can help either with paying bills or setting up automatic billing to avoid late payments.

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2. Create a separate account where you can keep a small, agreed-upon amount of money that the person can use for recreational activities, meals with friends or other personal purchases.

3. Sign up to receive automatic notifications for withdrawals from bank accounts or large charges to credit cards. If you set a charge or spending limit and if the person spends more than that, the bank or credit card company will let you know.

People living with dementia are also more susceptible to financial abuse, identity theft, fraud or get-rich-quick schemes, experts warn. (iStock)

4. Request electronic bank and credit card statements and watch for unusual purchases or changes in how the person typically spends money.

5. Sign up for the “Do Not Call” list at donotcall.gov to protect against telemarketing calls and potential phone scams.

It’s always best to have conversations about managing finances sooner rather than later, Moreno advised.

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“In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people are more likely to understand the importance of these issues and suspicious activities to avoid,” she said.

“If you wait, these concepts will be more difficult to comprehend as your relatives’ memories and other executive functioning skills decline.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the New York Federal Reserve researchers requesting comment.

Health

Common nighttime noise exposure may trigger heart problems, study suggests

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

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Common nighttime noise exposure may trigger heart problems, study suggests

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Living near heavy traffic could negatively impact your heart health.

A European study, published in the journal Environmental Research, found that exposure to nighttime road traffic noise is linked to changes in the blood, leading to worsened cholesterol and cardiovascular risks.

The researchers considered data from the U.K. Biobank, Rotterdam Study, and Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, including more than 272,000 adults over the age of 30, according to a press release.

Nighttime road noise exposure was estimated at all participants’ homes based on national noise maps. Researchers also took blood samples to measure the participants’ metabolic biomarkers for disease, then mapped the link between nightly noise levels and existence of biomarkers.

Exposure to loud noise was associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers. (iStock)

The study found that people exposed to louder noise at night — especially sounds above 55 decibels — showed changes in 48 different substances in their blood. Twenty of these associations “remained robust” throughout all cohorts.

Exposure to loud noise was associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers, especially LDL “bad” cholesterol, IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein) and unsaturated fatty acids.

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As noise levels increased, starting at around 50 decibels, cholesterol markers rose steadily, the release stated.

The authors concluded that this study “provides evidence that nighttime road traffic noise exposure from 50 dB upward is associated with alterations in blood cholesterol and lipid profiles in adults.”

Researchers noted a link between traffic noise and cardiometabolic disease. (iStock)

Study co-author Yiyan He, doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland, noted that in this type of research, small effect sizes are expected, and environmental exposures such as traffic noise are “typically modest.”

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“Despite this, we observed statistically robust and consistent associations across many biomarkers, especially those related to LDL and IDL lipoproteins,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“We also identified a clear exposure-response pattern starting at around 50 dB, suggesting that metabolic changes become more evident as noise levels increase.”

This aligns with public health guidance, as the World Health Organization recommends lower nighttime noise limits at around 40 to 45 dB, Yiyan He added.

“This finding may clarify the association between traffic noise and cardiometabolic diseases,” the researchers wrote. (iStock)

“The 55 dB level is often used as an interim benchmark associated with substantial noise annoyance and sleep disturbance,” she said. “In our study, we observed associations not only at 55 dB, but also indications of effects emerging at around 50 dB.”

The strength and consistency of the cholesterol-related associations were surprising, as these changes are usually “subtle.”

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“Instead, we found consistent associations across multiple large European cohorts, which strengthens confidence that the findings may reflect real biological patterns,” Yiyan He went on. “We were also interested to see that effects were minimal below ~50 dB, suggesting a possible threshold-like pattern.”

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The researcher noted that these findings were consistent across genders, education levels and obesity status.

The study was restricted to White Europeans, which posed a limitation. There was also a lack of information on the fasting status in the UK Biobank.

Changes in cholesterol levels were more severe than researchers expected. (iStock)

“Fasting can influence levels of certain metabolites, particularly fatty acids,” Yiyan He said. “However, based on UK Biobank documentation, fewer than 10% of participants were fasting for at least eight hours, and our main findings focused on cholesterol-related biomarkers, which are generally less sensitive to short-term fasting.”

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The researchers also lacked information on bedroom location, indoor noise exposure and time spent at home.

“These factors may introduce non-differential exposure misclassification,” Yiyan He said. “Additionally, noise exposure estimates were based on participants’ temporary residential addresses at the time of blood sampling, without considering the duration of residence.”

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“Many of these limitations would tend to bias results toward the null, so the consistent associations we observed remain noteworthy.”

Experts recommend taking measures to limit traffic noise at night. (iStock)

Based on this latest research, Yiyan He noted that nighttime noise is a “health-relevant exposure,” not just “an annoyance.”

“Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic noise may subtly but consistently affect metabolic health,” she said. “While the changes in cholesterol and lipid levels for any one individual are small, traffic noise affects a very large number of people, which means the potential public health impact could be substantial.”

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The researcher recommends taking measures like improving sound insulation, using noise-reducing strategies and placing bedrooms on the quieter side of the home when possible.

“Because sleep is a key pathway linking noise to health, protecting the nighttime sleep environment is especially important,” she added.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Health

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and a Faster Metabolism

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and a Faster Metabolism

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and Fat Burn | Woman’s World

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