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SCARS™ Special Report: According To New Science Financial Scam Victims Have Higher Risk Of Alzheimer’s
From Reuter’s Health
Older adults who are victims of financial scams may be more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than elderly people who don’t get tricked by scammers, a small U.S. study suggests.
For the study, researchers gave scam awareness questionnaires to 935 older people who didn’t have dementia. Five questions assessed how open people were to sales pitches, how interested they were in potentially risky investments, and whether they understood that elderly people are more vulnerable to scams.
On average, participants scored 2.8 out of a possible five points, with higher scores indicating lower scam awareness.
After an average follow up of six years, 151 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease and 255 developed mild cognitive impairment.
Low scam awareness was associated with a 56 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s and a 47 percent higher risk of mild cognitive impairment, researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“Decreased scam awareness may be a very early sign of Alzheimer’s disease – one that is present well before cognitive symptoms are recognizable,” said lead study author Patricia Boyle of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
“Evaluations of behaviors such as scam susceptibility may help to identify who is at greatest risk of developing cognitive impairment and who may benefit most from therapeutic intervention,” Boyle said by email.
Alzheimer’s, which gradually destroys memory and thinking skills, is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Inside the brain, Alzheimer’s is associated with abnormal clumps known as amyloid plaques and tangled bundles of fibers, often called tau or tangles. Scientists suspect that the damage begins in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in memory.
The only way to confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is by doing a brain autopsy.
Researchers examined autopsy results for 264 people who died during the study. They found the brains of people with lower scam awareness had more damage associated with Alzheimer’s.
The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how scam awareness might directly influence the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.
One limitation of the study is that Alzheimer’s can take years to develop and the study may not have been long enough to detect all cases that might develop with more time, the study authors note. It’s also unclear whether people who had low scam awareness in questionnaires might actually become the victims of financial scams in real life.
“Memory loss is an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Jason Karlawish, co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
“This study suggests that, perhaps, changes in social cognition are, too; meaning, changes in the ability to judge other people’s emotions and social cues may signal a person is at risk of cognitive decline,” Karlawish, author of an accompanying editorial, said by email.
Family members and caregivers of older adults should keep a close eye on how well they manage money, and find a way to monitor their financial transactions to try to head off scams, Karlawish advised. Ideally, older adults should give online view-only access to accounts and be cautious about who gets access to their financial records.
“Be aware that a power of attorney is a power to steal and that joint accounts are just that, joint,” Karlawish said. “The other holder can spend the money as he sees fit and spend it legally.”
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, online April 15, 2019.
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TAGS: Research Study, Elderly Victims, Senior Citizens, Scam Victims, Victim Mental Health, Alzheimer’s, Annals of Internal Medicine
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We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
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At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
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