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Does marriage raise or cut dementia risk? This new study may surprise you

Does marriage raise or cut dementia risk? This new study may surprise you

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Apr 12, 2025, 14:35 IST

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A recent study challenges the long-held belief that marriage universally protects against dementia. Research indicates that widowed, divorced, and never-married individuals may have a lower risk of developing dementia compared to married people.

Does marriage raise or cut dementia risk? This new study may surprise you

Having a lifelong companion is said to have many health perks. Married people as per studies are believed to live longer, have lower depression risks, heart attack risks, and survive cancer. Yet, when it comes to brain health, the story may not be all rosy. Marriage could significantly raise your dementia risk, finds a new study.
In a research published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, it was found that
widowed, divorced, and never-married individuals had around 50% or lower risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, compared to their married counterparts.

The surprising connection between marriage and dementia diagnosis

While this may dissuade you from getting married, there's more to the story than meets the eye. Experts caution that the numbers might not tell the full truth.

Poll

Do you believe that marriage has more health benefits than risks?

No, not reallyYes, definitely

The authors of the study note that the findings could also indicate delayed diagnoses among unmarried people as married individuals are more likely to engage in preventive medical care than unmarried people, largely due to partners who notice early symptoms.

This means that single people in the early stages of dementia may miss or delay their diagnosis compared to married people. It is to be noted that many symptoms of dementia like memory loss, confusion, and mood changes are usually noticed by someone else, and not patient themselves.
The researchers from the Florida State University College of Medicine said the findings could “challenge the assumption that marriage protects against dementia.�?br/>

How the study was carried out

Health records of 24,107 elderly people from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center were studied by the authors over 18 years. The people under study were divided into four groups - married, widowed, divorced, and never married.

How marriage could influence dementia risk factors

While there have been previous studies suggesting single people are at greater risk of dementia, the authors of this study looked into evidence that indicated an increase in some domains of well-being, such as happiness and life satisfaction after divorce and social participation after partner bereavement.
They also noted that people who never get married are more likely to socialise with friends and neighbors and are “more likely to engage in healthier behaviors than their married counterparts.�?br/>The researchers also found that married individuals “tend to have less social integration and are engaged in less frequent and lower-quality interactions in their networks compared to their unmarried counterparts.�?br/>Positive aspects of well-being and social ties could be protective factors against dementia with time.

Researchers also observed that the quality of a marriage could also impact health outcomes.

“There is substantial evidence that the health benefits of marriage appear to be only in high-quality marriages,�?they note. “In contrast, individuals who are unhappy in their marriage…are more likely to have equal or worse health and mortality risk compared to those who are widowed, divorced, or never-married counterparts. Thus, marital quality may play a key role in the association.�?br/>

Activities that can reduce dementia risk

This may include lifelong learning like taking up new hobbies, and learning new skills to keep challenging the brain. Studies also show benefits of dancing to improve memory and reduce dementia risk. Mindfulness and meditation can are also linked to reduced stress and inflammation which are linked to cognitive decline. Finally, regular interaction with friends and family helps protect against cognitive decline.

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TOI Lifestyle Desk

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