By Harshit, ATLANTA, 3 november, 2025 —
A decade-long analysis has revealed a striking rise in self-reported memory, focus, and decision-making problems among American adults — particularly those under 40. The findings, published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, point to growing cognitive challenges that researchers say could signal deeper social and health issues across the country.
Growing Reports of Memory and Thinking Problems
Between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of U.S. adults reporting serious difficulty with concentration, remembering, or making decisions rose from 5.3% to 7.4%, according to the study led by Dr. Adam de Havenon of Yale School of Medicine. The research analyzed data from over 4.5 million survey responses collected annually across the decade.
“Challenges with memory and thinking have emerged as a leading health issue reported by U.S. adults,” said Dr. de Havenon. “Our study shows that these difficulties may be becoming more widespread, especially among younger adults, and that social and structural factors likely play a key role.”
The study excluded responses from individuals reporting depression to isolate cognitive symptoms unrelated to mental health conditions. Data from 2020 was also omitted due to the extraordinary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical well-being.
Younger Adults See the Sharpest Rise
The trend was especially pronounced among younger adults aged 18 to 39, whose rates of self-reported cognitive disability nearly doubled from 5.1% in 2013 to 9.7% in 2023.
By contrast, adults aged 70 and older saw a modest decline from 7.3% to 6.6%, a shift that surprised researchers. Experts speculate that younger generations may be more exposed to lifestyle and social stressors — including increased screen time, chronic stress, disrupted sleep, and economic instability — which could affect brain function.
Although the survey did not diagnose medical cognitive impairment, de Havenon emphasized that the rising rate of self-reported struggles among younger adults represents an important public health signal. “If more young adults are already struggling with attention and memory, this could have long-term implications for workforce productivity and future rates of dementia,” he said.
The Role of Income and Education
The findings highlight a growing socioeconomic divide in brain health. Adults earning under $35,000 per year experienced the highest increase in reported cognitive difficulty — from 8.8% to 12.6% over the decade.
Meanwhile, those with annual incomes above $75,000 saw a smaller rise, from 1.8% to 3.9%.
A similar gap appeared across education levels: adults without a high school diploma saw rates climb from 11.1% to 14.3%, while college graduates reported an increase from 2.1% to 3.6%.
“These results show a clear link between economic and educational disadvantage and cognitive health,” the study noted. Researchers suggested that chronic stress, limited access to quality health care, food insecurity, and environmental exposures could all contribute to these disparities.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Cognitive difficulties also varied sharply among racial and ethnic groups. American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported the highest rates, rising from 7.5% to 11.2%, followed by Hispanic adults (6.8% to 9.9%), Black adults (7.3% to 8.2%), White adults (4.5% to 6.3%), and Asian adults (3.9% to 4.8%).
“These findings suggest we’re seeing the steepest increases among populations already facing social and economic disadvantages,” said de Havenon. “We need to understand and address the root causes — from unequal health care access to environmental factors and long-term stress — that may be driving these patterns.”
Researchers stressed that structural inequities such as poverty, discrimination, and reduced access to preventive care likely exacerbate the problem.
Understanding the Possible Causes
Experts say the rise in self-reported cognitive difficulties may stem from multiple overlapping causes. These include:
- Increased awareness and reporting: People today may be more willing to acknowledge and report cognitive symptoms than in previous decades.
- Mental fatigue and digital overload: Constant exposure to screens, social media, and multitasking environments may be straining attention and short-term memory.
- Sleep and stress: Chronic stress, irregular sleep schedules, and anxiety linked to financial instability or work demands may be undermining brain health.
- Physical health connections: Poor cardiovascular health, obesity, and reduced physical activity — all more prevalent in lower-income groups — are known to affect brain function.
Dr. de Havenon emphasized that while not all reported difficulties reflect diagnosable impairment, the consistent upward trend is cause for concern. “The rise is real — and it’s especially pronounced among people under 40,” he said.
Limitations and Future Research
The authors cautioned that their study relies on self-reported survey data, which can be subjective. Respondents might interpret “difficulty remembering or concentrating” differently, and the broad question may capture temporary issues rather than chronic impairment.
Still, the consistency of the findings across millions of respondents and a 10-year span strengthens their validity.
The researchers called for further studies to determine whether these self-reported symptoms correspond to measurable declines in cognitive performance — and to pinpoint whether environmental, psychological, or economic factors are the primary drivers.
“Understanding why more young people are experiencing cognitive strain is vital,” de Havenon said. “This could be a warning signal that lifestyle, stress, or environmental factors are beginning to take a measurable toll on the brain.”
A Call to Action for Brain Health Equity
Public health experts say the findings underscore the need for stronger investment in preventive brain health measures, including early screening, workplace wellness programs, and policies to reduce socioeconomic inequality.
“The brain is just as affected by social conditions as the body,” de Havenon noted. “If we want to protect cognitive health nationwide, we must address the inequities that are quietly shaping it.”
The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that cognitive resilience — the brain’s ability to adapt and maintain function under stress — is increasingly dependent on social stability, education, and access to health care.
As younger generations face mounting economic pressure and digital overload, scientists warn that the nation’s cognitive health may become one of the defining challenges of the coming decade.