Cognitive and brain volume correlates of financial literacy assessment in Greek persons with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: a preliminary study

Background: Financial literacy is a crucial skill for the aging population. However, so far we have no data coming from Greece regarding financial literacy and cognitive and brain correlates in healthy older adults and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) patients. Methods: In this preliminary study, financial literacy was examined with the Big Three Questions in 15 individuals with aMCI and 15 matched healthy controls. Simultaneous measurements of different regional brain volumes were derived from structural MRI and the cognitive performance was assessed with a number of standardized neuropsychological tests (Rey auditory verbal learning test, clock drawing test trail-making test parts A and B, Boston Naming Test, digit span memory test forward and backward, and verbal fluency task). Results: For the first time, findings suggest lower financial literacy in aMCI compared to matched controls. Spearman correlations revealed that financial literacy correlates with a number of brain volumes (white matter, gray matter, left amygdala, and right frontal medial cortex). Among the cognitive tests, correlations were found only with trail making parts A and B time to completion. Conclusion: The above findings are of importance for clinicians as indicators of need for comprehensive financial capacity assessment of older patients susceptible to financial exploitation.