‘This symptom’ in our daily lives that we ignore without thinking, is it an early sign of dementia? Research < News with AI < Life < Industry < Text of article

[디지털투데이 AI리포터] Most people think of memory loss as an early symptom of dementia. However, British daily newspaper The Sun reported on the 23rd (local time) that signs of dementia can be found in things such as paying bills and managing finances.

Difficulty managing finances is one of the early symptoms of dementia, according to new research from Ireland’s Maynooth University and University College Dublin. The research team drew this conclusion by citing data from the National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted in the United States between 2006 and 2020. Factors such as people’s banking behavior, age and health status could help identify people who will be diagnosed with dementia up to four years in advance.

According to a paper published in the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), only 6% of people over the age of 70 who did not have difficulty managing their finances were diagnosed with dementia within four years. However, for people who have difficulty managing their finances, the rate of being diagnosed with dementia within 4 years was 27.94%.

“Dementia is usually diagnosed too late,” the research team explained. “Detecting dementia early through early signs, such as difficulty managing finances, can help provide early treatment to patients.” In addition, having difficulty finding your way or slowing down your walking or speaking speed can also be dangerous signs of dementia.