Surprising Link: Being Single May Lower Dementia Risk Than Married Ones

Would you think that being divorced or single can help shield your brain? That's what a recent study at Florida State University suggests. In opposition to previous findings, the research indicates that unmarried individuals might be less likely to develop dementia than their married counterparts.

It's a turnabout, particularly as earlier research, including a high-profile one in 2019, asserted the contrary: that married individuals are less prone to getting dementia. Married individuals have always been considered to be in better general health, with reduced risks of heart disease, and stroke, and even a longer life expectancy. 

Recent research prompts us to rethink the role that relationships play in our brain health.

Within the Study: Following Over 24,000 Americans

Researchers examined data from over 24,000 individuals who were dementia-free at the beginning of the study. Participants were followed for 18 years through the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC). The study categorized people by marital status: married, divorced, widowed, or never married.

At first, all unmarried groups had a lower risk of dementia than the married ones. But after the researchers adjusted for lifestyle measures like smoking, depression, and other illnesses, the findings became different. The protective effect applied primarily to the divorced or the never-married.

Not all dementia is created equal.

Surprisingly, different types of dementia are affected by marital status. Unmarried status is strongly protective against Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent type of dementia. This was not the case for vascular dementia, however, which is much less common and is the result of compromised blood flow to the brain.

Also, individuals divorced or never married were less likely to develop from mild cognitive impairments to dementia. Even those who became widowed throughout the study had a somewhat reduced risk.

Why would marriage raise risk?

One theory is: that married individuals get diagnosed earlier just because they have somebody to take care of them. One spouse might recognize memory gaps and suggest to get some medical attention. That might contribute to more reported cases of dementia in married individuals, but perhaps not more actual ones. That's ascertainment bias.

However, the study attempted to control for this. All the participants had routine medical check-ups, so early symptoms of dementia would be picked up, whether or not they lived with a partner.

Are the data representative of the general population?

Another limitation: The sample might not represent the larger population. Approximately two-thirds of the participants were married, and the sample was not racially or income-diverse. These elements might skew the results.

Nevertheless, the research is the largest of its kind and puts gravity into the discussion. It asks questions regarding deeply ingrained presumptions, such as whether the stress of divorce or widowhood elevates dementia risk or whether solo individuals are more isolated and therefore at greater risk.

It's complicated: The quality of relationships matters more than status.

In the end, the research doesn't conclude that marriage is bad for your brain. Rather, it indicates that the quality of relationships, social support, and personal satisfaction might have a greater influence than marital status itself.

As the researchers point out, relationship dynamics are complicated. A happy single existence can be more protective than a stressful marriage. Social connections, emotional fulfillment, and mental well-being are more important than simply ticking the "married" box.

Bottom Line

This new study turns conventional wisdom on its head: Being married isn’t always better for mental health. When it comes to dementia, the quality of your relationships and your overall sense of belonging and purpose matter more than your marital status.

So, whether you’re single, divorced, married, or widowed, staying mentally and emotionally engaged may be the real key to keeping your brain sharp.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)