People who face poverty experience shrinking brain volume, lower cognitive function, and faster physical aging, according to research reported by PsyPost.
The study, published in the journal PNAS, found that individuals with low income levels who constantly face financial problems perform worse on memory tests and process information more slowly.
Researchers noted that these cognitive deficits occur regardless of the education level or IQ score of the participants. Cognitive function includes mental processes such as memory, attention, and reasoning, which are essential for managing complex daily tasks.
Brain scans and physical aging
Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the subjects revealed more pronounced brain atrophy among those living in poverty. MRI technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of brain structure and monitor tissue volume.
Brain atrophy refers to the progressive loss of neurons and connections between brain cells. In addition to structural brain changes, the study showed that financial struggle accelerates the biological aging process, causing physical markers of aging to advance faster than chronological age.
The findings were reported by PsyPost, a news outlet dedicated to psychology and neuroscience research, following the publication in PNAS. PNAS is the official peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences, publishing high-impact research across biological, physical, and social sciences.
Prefrontal cortex and daily stress
The study highlights how financial strain taxes mental resources over time. Previously, psychiatrist, addiction specialist, and psychotherapist Marat Aginyan explained how neural depletion affects emotional control and mental stamina over the course of a day.
Aginyan said that the prefrontal cortex helps people suppress emotions and maintain rational thinking throughout the day. However, he noted that the resources of the prefrontal cortex become depleted by evening, leading to an increase in anxiety.
The prefrontal cortex is the region at the front of the brain responsible for executive functions, including decision making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. When continuous hardship or routine fatigue exhausts these neural resources, individuals experience greater emotional vulnerability and reduced cognitive endurance.
