Unmarried Adults May Face Lower Dementia Risk

A study analyzing over 24,000 older adults from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center suggests that marital status influences dementia risk. Over an 18-year follow-up, unmarried individuals—including widowed, divorced, and never-married—showed a lower risk of developing dementia compared to their married counterparts. The study also found reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia among unmarried individuals.

While previous research often suggested marriage provides cognitive benefits, the findings challenge this assumption. Experts speculate that unmarried individuals may receive later diagnoses due to a lack of close partners recognizing early symptoms. The study also considered factors like age, gender, depression, and genetics, finding small variations in dementia risk.

The results indicate that social and psychological factors related to marriage may not always protect cognitive health. Additionally, divorced individuals, especially men, may experience improved well-being, potentially reducing dementia risk. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the link between relationship status and cognitive decline.

These findings suggest that dementia risk assessments should consider marital status while emphasizing the importance of early detection and medical care, particularly for those without close partners.