Researchers Discover Aging Adults' Financial Awareness and the Impact of Dementia

A recent study conducted by Binghamton University reveals that older adults generally possess a strong understanding of their financial abilities, and this awareness tends to improve with age and experience—up until the onset of dementia. The research, published in The Gerontologist, analyzed data from a decade-long study involving 2,800 seniors. Participants were asked to self-assess their capability to perform various financial tasks, including paying bills, making change, and estimating costs over time. They then performed practical financial tasks to compare their perceptions with actual performance.

The findings indicate that, as individuals age, they often become more accurate in evaluating their financial skills, especially when cognitive health remains relatively intact. "We were surprised to find that people can predict their financial abilities quite well, and this skill improves over time," said lead researcher Ian McDonough.

However, this trend reverses for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The ability to accurately judge one's financial skills declines significantly, and individuals may overestimate or underestimate their competence, often remaining unaware of their decline—a phenomenon known as anosognosia. This lack of awareness poses risks for financial safety, including vulnerability to scams or inability to manage essential payments.

McDonough emphasized the importance of early financial safeguards and education for older adults. Family members and caregivers should consider setting up protective measures, like shared bank accounts or alerts, before individuals lose awareness of their impairments. Recognizing early warning signs of decline can help prevent financial exploitation and preserve autonomy where possible.

Future research plans include examining brain activity related to financial reasoning and improving digital banking literacy among older populations. Overall, the study underscores the need for proactive strategies to support financial well-being as cognitive health changes with age.