Persistent financial hardship may have lasting effects on brain health, with new research suggesting that years of money-related stress are associated with poorer memory, reduced cognitive function and faster brain ageing.

The study, which analyzed data from 2,759 people in the United Kingdom, found that individuals who experienced ongoing financial difficulties during early and middle adulthood performed worse on cognitive tests by the age of 53 than those who had not faced prolonged economic hardship.

Researchers also discovered signs of significant brain atrophy by age 71 among participants who had experienced long-term low income or recurring financial struggles, pointing to a possible connection between chronic economic stress and accelerated ageing of the brain.

Jacques Wels, a researcher at University College London and one of the study’s authors, said the findings indicate that sustained hardship has a greater impact on cognitive health than occasional financial setbacks.

“The accumulation of hardship over many years is linked to the worst cognitive health outcomes, rather than occasional episodes of adversity,” Wels said.

The researchers observed another unexpected pattern. Participants who experienced persistent financial hardship showed a slower decline in verbal memory between the ages of 53 and 69. According to the study, this may indicate that much of the cognitive damage had already occurred before middle age, leaving less room for additional decline during later years.

The authors suggested that long-term financial pressure places a continuous burden on the brain by increasing cognitive load. Constant concerns about paying bills, managing expenses and maintaining financial security may reduce the mental resources available for attention, planning and decision-making.

The study noted that chronic financial adversity may place prolonged stress on the systems responsible for cognitive processing, gradually contributing to cognitive impairment over time.

Researchers also found that the effects of financial stress were more pronounced among men, people who experienced disadvantaged childhoods and those carrying genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings come as dementia continues to pose a growing public health challenge worldwide. According to the study, around 57 million people were living with dementia in 2019, and that figure is expected to exceed 150 million by 2050 as populations continue to age.

Scientists have increasingly focused on identifying risk factors that can be changed through public health policies or personal interventions. The authors said reducing chronic financial hardship could become an important strategy for protecting long-term brain health alongside established measures such as healthy lifestyles and regular medical care.

The research also arrives during a period when many households continue to face higher living costs and economic uncertainty. The authors argued that stronger social and economic support for financially vulnerable populations could provide benefits that extend beyond financial well-being.

“Our findings suggest that supporting people facing financial hardship and reducing chronic poverty could also help prevent cognitive decline and dementia cases in the future,” said Praveetha Patalay, the study’s senior author.

The researchers said the results highlight the close relationship between economic conditions and long-term health, suggesting that policies aimed at reducing persistent poverty may also help improve cognitive health as populations grow older.

Europe is unlikely to meet its target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 despite years of progress in prevention and treatment, according to a new assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The agency said improvements in vaccination, screening and treatment have reduced infections over the past two decades, but persistent gaps in childhood immunization and prevention programs continue to slow progress across the region.

“No one should die from a disease that is preventable, diagnosable and treatable, yet millions of Europeans are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, often without knowing it, which can lead to severe long-term consequences such as liver failure or liver cancer,” said Bruno Ciancio, Head of Unit for Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at the ECDC.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viral infections spread through infected blood or bodily fluids. Both diseases are major causes of chronic liver disease and can result in serious complications, including liver failure and cancer if left untreated.

According to the ECDC, an estimated five million people across Europe are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, while around 60,000 people die each year from liver diseases linked to the viruses.

Health officials noted that acute hepatitis B infections have steadily declined since 2006, reflecting the success of long-term vaccination campaigns and public health measures. Among people under the age of 25, the share of acute hepatitis B cases dropped from 11 percent in 2015 to 8 percent in 2024, demonstrating the positive impact of childhood immunization programs.

The report also highlighted progress in preventing transmission from mothers to newborns. Routine hepatitis B screening during pregnancy is now established across all 30 European Union and European Economic Area countries, helping reduce mother-to-child transmission to below 2 percent.

Despite these gains, the ECDC said vaccination coverage remains below international targets in many countries. Only a limited number of nations have achieved the World Health Organization’s goal of fully vaccinating 95 percent of children against hepatitis B, while some countries have reported declining immunization rates in recent years.

The agency also identified shortcomings in efforts to prevent hepatitis C among people who inject drugs. Measures such as opioid agonist treatment and the distribution of sterile needles and syringes have proven effective in reducing transmission, yet only seven countries currently meet the WHO target for providing sterile injection equipment.

Ciancio said the tools needed to control hepatitis already exist, including vaccination against hepatitis B, early testing, infection control measures and treatments that can cure hepatitis C and manage hepatitis B. He stressed that the challenge is ensuring these services are available to everyone who needs them.

The ECDC also pointed to shortcomings in monitoring prevention efforts aimed at reducing sexually transmitted hepatitis infections. While sexual transmission remains a significant route for hepatitis B and hepatitis C is commonly associated with injecting drug use and sex between men, the agency said targeted prevention programs are not being systematically tracked across European countries.

The findings suggest that stronger vaccination efforts, expanded harm reduction services and broader access to testing and treatment will be needed if Europe hopes to move closer to its hepatitis elimination goals in the coming years.