New data reveals that higher Social Security income helps the memory and mental functioning of older

[eridani]

--adults

Other factors associated with higher income could of course be involved.

http://justcareusa.org/new-data-reveals-that-higher-social-security-income-helps-the-memory-and-mental-functioning-of-older-adults/

As the population ages, it’s important that our policies help to prevent, reduce or delay cognitive impairments. We want to be sure that for as long as possible people can carry out daily activities. And, we want to avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with dementia. New research by Padmaja Ayyagari and David Friswold suggests that higher Social Security income helps the memory, knowledge, language and overall cognition of older adults.

Ayyagari and Friswold’s August 2015 National Bureau of Economic Research paper reveals the positive impact of Social Security income on cognitive function for older adults. It looks at whether the 1977 reduction in Social Security income for those born after 1917 led to a reduction in cognition.

Specifically the research shows that a $1,000 increase in Social Security annual income improves working memory 2.2%, knowledge, language and orientation 1.1%, and overall cognition 1.4%. It also shows that a $1,000 increase in Social Security annual income reduces the chance of being diagnosed as demented by 1.9% and the change of being diagnosed as cognitively impaired by 1%.

The authors suggest that the cost of increasing Social Security benefits could be offset by lower Medicare and Medicaid costs; higher Social Security benefits would mean fewer people needing costly treatment for cognitive impairments.

Prior research has shown that higher income can mean less financial stress and better access to care, both of which are associated with better cognition. Stress has been shown to reduce cognition for older adults. There is also a strong link between depression and reduced cognition. Stress and depression cause higher levels of corticosteroids that can affect memory.

[Turbineguy]

1. That would explain

why republicans want to get rid of Social Security. They need all those low cognition voters.

[Fumesucker]

2. The stress of being poor lowers effective IQ by ~13 points

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S37/75/69M50/index.xml?section=topstories

Poverty and all its related concerns require so much mental energy that the poor have less remaining brainpower to devote to other areas of life, according to research based at Princeton University. As a result, people of limited means are more likely to make mistakes and bad decisions that may be amplified by — and perpetuate — their financial woes.

Published in the journal Science, the study presents a unique perspective regarding the causes of persistent poverty. The researchers suggest that being poor may keep a person from concentrating on the very avenues that would lead them out of poverty. A person's cognitive function is diminished by the constant and all-consuming effort of coping with the immediate effects of having little money, such as scrounging to pay bills and cut costs. Thusly, a person is left with fewer "mental resources" to focus on complicated, indirectly related matters such as education, job training and even managing their time.

In a series of experiments, the researchers found that pressing financial concerns had an immediate impact on the ability of low-income individuals to perform on common cognitive and logic tests. On average, a person preoccupied with money problems exhibited a drop in cognitive function similar to a 13-point dip in IQ, or the loss of an entire night's sleep.

[Sherman A1]

3. Interesting

and not at all surprising. If one has a higher income, one eats and lives better so it only stands to reason that one's medical issues would be lessened.

[femmedem]

4. not only would the extra income mean less stress and better food, but also less isolation.

It takes money to go out and socialize. Even free events cost gas money if you don't live in a city.

[Hatchling]

5. Yes.

Even the ability to get better cable channels or internet would help. I don't get any news channels and I can't watch videos that are posted. And being able to cut down on the starch in my diet and add more protein and fresh veggies would be awesome.