Scientists at Columbia University in New York discovered that persons with poor incomes experience cognitive deterioration more rapidly, which is often a precursor to dementia.
Their study matched the incomes of over 2,900 American individuals in their 50s and 60s to the rate of brain aging.
Those earning less than two-thirds of the median wage saw more rapid memory loss than their friends with a higher income.
The research indicates that such jobs would pay approximately $27,000 (£22,100) in the United States.
The median wage in the United Kingdom is significantly less, therefore the threshold might be as low as £17,000 per year.
This category includes jobs such as entry-level cleaners, quick restaurant employees, and teaching assistants.
In April, average salaries fell at the fastest rate in more than two decades due to the rising cost of living.
It is estimated that approximately 900,000 people in the United Kingdom suffer from dementia, with rates anticipated to rise as the population ages.
According to charity, the number is seven times higher in the United States.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, examined the earnings of roughly 3,000 individuals between 1992 and 2004.
All the participants, who were in their 50s when the experiment began, were divided into three groups according to their earnings: those who consistently earned low pay, those who occasionally did, and those who never did.
The researchers then administered memory tests to determine the rate of loss in brain speed between 2004 and 2016.
Consistently poor incomes during the peak of their careers were associated with a considerable acceleration of cognitive impairment in later life.
During the 12 years, people with lower incomes experienced a 10% greater decline than those with higher wages.
Experts found that it was the equivalent of their brains aging by nearly one additional year over a decade.
Dr. Katrina Kezios, the study’s lead researcher, stated, “Prolonged exposure to low pay during peak working years is associated with faster memory deterioration in later life.”
The study did not explain why low salaries are associated with cognitive deterioration.
Cognitive decline diminishes memory, language, and problem-solving abilities. Serious cognitive decline produces dementia.
However, past study suggests that it may be due to the unhealthy lifestyles of low-income individuals.
This involves a bad diet, smoking, and excessive drinking.
People with lower earnings are also likely to have poorer cardiovascular health and higher rates of diabetes, which are additional dementia risk factors.
Further research is required, according to the researchers, to determine how an increase in the minimum wage can mitigate cognitive loss.
Dr. Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, the study’s senior author, stated, “Our findings show that social measures that improve the financial well-being of low-wage workers may be especially advantageous for cognitive health.
Future research should systematically investigate the number of dementia cases and excess cognitive aging years that could be averted under various hypothetical scenarios in which the minimum hourly wage is increased.
