Chen Hsiang-Yu, Gold Bailey C, Ciampa Claire J, Crawford Jennifer L, Adornato Alex A, Cowan Jordyn L, O'Malley Katherine E, Snyder Hannah R, Berry Anne S
Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 2;15(1):15398. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00120-4.
Aging is accompanied by changes in multiple cognitive domains, which can impact older adults' ability to maintain independence. The ability to manage one's personal finances is an activity of daily living most often studied in the context of Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia. However, it is critical that we also understand the nature and sources of variation in financial capacity in cognitively unimpaired populations. This study aimed to establish meaningful individual differences in financial capacity in this population and to define those primary behavioral predictors of individual differences. Applying a partial least squares correlation approach, we found significant associations between financial capacity, as assessed by the Financial Capacity-Short Form, and a battery of neuropsychological and self-report measures in normal aging (r = .56, p < .001). Key predictors of financial capacity included fluid reasoning, crystallized intelligence, working memory updating, visual memory, and self-reported sleep duration (|rs| = 0.29-0.56, ps = 0.02- 0.001). These findings indicate that financial capacity is supported by multiple cognitive domains in aging. Further, associations with fluid reasoning and crystallized intelligence suggest some individuals may be more protected against clinically-relevant impairment in financial capacity through cognitive reserve mechanisms.
衰老伴随着多个认知领域的变化，这可能会影响老年人维持独立生活的能力。管理个人财务的能力是日常生活活动中最常被研究的，尤其是在轻度认知障碍和痴呆症的背景下。然而，我们同样必须了解认知未受损人群财务能力差异的性质和来源。本研究旨在确定该人群中财务能力方面有意义的个体差异，并确定这些个体差异的主要行为预测因素。应用偏最小二乘相关方法，我们发现，通过财务能力简表评估的财务能力与一系列正常衰老人群的神经心理学和自我报告测量之间存在显著关联（r = 0.56，p < 0.001）。财务能力的关键预测因素包括流体推理、晶体智力、工作记忆更新、视觉记忆和自我报告的睡眠时间（|rs| = 0.29 - 0.56，ps = 0.02 - 0.001）。这些发现表明，衰老过程中的财务能力受多个认知领域的支持。此外，与流体推理和晶体智力的关联表明，一些个体可能通过认知储备机制在临床上更不容易出现与财务能力相关的损害。
