Are unmarried people less likely to develop dementia?

Study Explains the Relationship Between Marriage and Mental Health

Researchers from Florida State University and the University of Montpelier found that older adults who were divorced or never married were less likely to develop dementia over an 18-year period than their married peers.

The findings suggest that not being married may not increase the risk of cognitive decline, contrary to established beliefs in public health and aging research.

The Relationship Between Marriage and Health

Marriage is often associated with better health outcomes and a longer lifespan, but evidence linking marital status to the risk of dementia remains inconsistent.

According to Medical Express, some studies have reported a higher risk of dementia among unmarried individuals, while others have found no association or inconsistent patterns between divorce and widowhood.

The increasing numbers of divorced, widowed, or never-married older adults has raised concerns about the likelihood of dementia in these groups.

Marital Status

Previous research has not consistently examined how marital status is associated with specific causes of dementia, or how factors such as gender, depression, or genetic predisposition might influence these associations.

Surprising Findings

In this study, which followed a sample of more than 24,000 people over 18 years, the results were surprising.

Compared with married participants, divorced or never-married individuals showed a consistently lower risk of dementia over the study period.

Dementia was diagnosed in 20.1% of the total sample. Among married participants, 21.9% developed dementia during the study period.

The incidence rate was similar among widowed participants (21.9%), but was significantly lower among divorced (12.8%) and never-married participants (12.4%).

Study Results

Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia were higher in married participants, and the risk of progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia was also higher.

There was no evidence linking marital status with vascular dementia or early cognitive decline. Patterns were generally similar across gender, age, education, and genetic risk categories.

Overall, unmarried older adults in this study were less likely to develop dementia than their married counterparts.