title: Financial Exploitation Is Associated With Structural and Functional Brain Differences in Healthy Older Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-related brain changes leading to altered socioemotional functioning may increase vulnerability to financial exploitation. If confirmed, this would suggest a novel mechanism leading to heightened financial exploitation risk in older adults. Development of predictive neural markers could facilitate increased vigilance and prevention. In this preliminary study, we sought to identify structural and functional brain differences associated with financial exploitation in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Financially exploited older adults (n = 13, 7 female) and a matched cohort of older adults who had been exposed to, but avoided, a potentially exploitative situation (n = 13, 7 female) were evaluated. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we examined cortical thickness and resting state functional connectivity. Behavioral data were collected using standardized cognitive assessments, self-report measures of mood and social functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exploited group showed cortical thinning in anterior insula and posterior superior temporal cortices, regions associated with processing affective and social information, respectively. Functional connectivity encompassing these regions, within default and salience networks, was reduced, while between network connectivity was increased. Self-reported anger and hostility was higher for the exploited group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed financial exploitation associated with brain differences in regions involved in socioemotional functioning. These exploratory and preliminary findings suggest that alterations in brain regions implicated in socioemotional functioning may be a marker of financial exploitation risk. Large-scale, prospective studies are necessary to validate this neural mechanism, and develop predictive markers for use in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Human Neuroscience Institute, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: R Nathan
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Spreng
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Bri S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Darboh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Human Neuroscience Institute, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DuPre
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Human Neuroscience Institute, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Amber W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lockrow
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Human Neuroscience Institute, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Setton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D003657:Decision Making; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Cognitive aging; Geriatric assessment; Neuroimaging