Study Finds Unmarried Older Adults May Have Lower Risk of Dementia

A recent study of 24,000 older adults in the US suggests that unmarried individuals may be less likely to develop dementia compared to their married counterparts, Axios reports.

The findings challenge the long-standing belief that marriage is linked to better cognitive health and longevity.

The study, conducted by researchers at the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, tracked adults aged 50 and older for up to 18 years. It revealed that widowed, divorced, and never-married individuals had a lower risk of dementia than those who were married.

This result stands in contrast to previous research, which has generally associated marriage with positive health outcomes, such as a reduced risk of heart disease, longer life expectancy, and even a lower likelihood of developing dementia.

Selin Karakose, a co-author of the study and a researcher at Florida State University College of Medicine, noted the surprising nature of these findings. She suggested that while marriage can offer benefits, it may also come with certain stressors, smaller social circles, and caregiving demands, all of which could impact brain health.

However, it’s important to consider that the study primarily involved volunteers who were mostly white and married. As a result, the findings may not fully represent the broader US population.

While some experts speculate that unmarried individuals might be diagnosed with dementia later due to a lack of spousal encouragement to seek care, the study’s authors emphasize that more research is needed to explore how marital status and relationship quality might influence dementia risk.

The study also highlights the importance of midlife as a critical period for protecting brain health. Dementia-related changes can begin up to 20 years before symptoms appear, meaning that taking steps to maintain cognitive health in your 40s to 60s could be crucial.