Finding a special soul mate and the knot is, of course, because of the celebration, but new research highlights a surprising potential drawback to get married: this can considerably increase your Risk of dementia.
What makes the results unexpected is that many previous studies have shown a variety of health benefits to get married – advantages that include Lower heart disease risk And Live at an advanced age.
The team behind the latest study, led by researchers from Florida State University College of Medicine, suggests that additional surveys will be necessary for the reasons for Diagnose it.
“Single people may have a lower risk of dementia than married adults”, ” to write Researchers of their published article.
“The results could indicate delayed diagnoses in single people or contest the hypothesis that marriage protects against dementia.”
Here are the statistics: Researchers have examined health files of 24,107 elderly people (with an average age of 71.8 years), during 18 years. These people were divided into four groups: married, widowed, divorced and never married.
With risk adjustments only for age and sex, people who had never married were 40% less likely to develop dementia than married people. For those who had been widowed, the decline was 27% and for those who have divorcedIt was 34%.
After taking into account more variables, such as education, genetics and others health problemsThe statistical difference for widows has gone. However, there was still a risk of 24% lower for people never married and 17% for those who divorced.
This suggests that some of the differences here are due to factors that are not linked to the matrimonial state – and it is therefore not proof of cause and direct effect. That said, there is always a notable difference in risk for those who have remained single.
The reasons for this association are likely to be many and varied. Researchers suggest that singles could be better to maintain social ties that can ward off dementiawhile health has an impact unhappy weddings should also be considered.
“There is evidence indicating an increase in certain areas of well-being, such as happiness and life satisfaction, after divorce and social participation after mourning partner”, ” to write researchers.
“Individuals never married are also no longer likely to socialize with friends and neighbors and are more likely to engage in healthier behaviors than their married counterparts.”
It should be recognized that other studies have shown that being married can protect against dementia – So why confusion? Variations in the size and diversity of samples, as well as housing for different risk factors, could help explain it, but it is clearly a complex problem.
“Our results according to which all single groups (widow, divorced, never married) were associated with a lower risk of dementia compared to married participants is contrary to most previous longitudinal studies”. to write researchers.
Research was published in Alzheimer’s and dementia.