When a family member who has been fairly responsible with money all their lives becomes careless with their finances, it may be one sign of as-yet-undiagnosed dementia. “The harmful financial effects of undiagnosed memory disorders exacerbate the already substantial financial pressure households face upon diagnosis,” the researchers wrote. Two parents with dementia, one daughter’s efforts to reduce financial worryJayne Sibley, who lives in the United Kingdom, knows the pain and stress of dealing with the financial behaviors that can signal dementia. Her mother also would take money out of the cash machine two to three times a day and give it to anyone who asked. Of course, no amount of advanced financial planning can alleviate the heartbreak of watching a loved one with dementia decline.

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Persons: Marcey Tidwell, ”, Tidwell, Karen Lemay, “, Lemay, hadn’t, ” Lemay, Jayne Sibley, ” Sibley, Sibley, doling, Ditto, ’ ”, ” Tidwell Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Federal Reserve, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US National Institute, Aging Locations: New York, Bloomington , Indiana, Ottawa, Canada, United Kingdom, Sibley