Health

How Being Married Can Cut Your Risk of Alzheimer's in Later Life

by Kevin Fed | July 2, 2009 at 10:29 pm

161 views | 65 Recommendations | 8 comments

Might sound very strange indeed. There seems to be almost no practical connection between marriage and Alzheimer's. However stranger things have happened before and this is no surprise. A group of Swedish researchers how come up with this interesting piece of research. Take a look.

Being married protects you against Alzheimer's in later life, claim researchers.

People who have a partner in middle age are at half the risk of developing dementia as those who live alone, says a study.

Getting divorced and becoming widowed in mid-life raises the risk three-fold.

The study by Swedish researchers is one of the first to focus on marital status and the risk of dementia.

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, which cause shrinkage of the brain, affect more than 700,000 people in the UK.

Previous research has suggested social isolation or lack of personal contact carries an increased risk of dementia and mental decline.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: 'In societies where divorce and separation are growing trends, we need to examine how we help people adjust to living alone.

'Those who are widowed are at a much higher risk, and interventions soon after their loss may have a significant preventive effect. Much more research is needed.'

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Paschen

at 01:58 on July 3rd, 2009

Interesting, I not to sure about e result of this study since a great number of Alzheimer victims are married.

sara star

at 06:04 on July 3rd, 2009

But happily? Or do they live together but lead separate lives?

Rhonda J Mangus

at 02:03 on July 3rd, 2009

A very interesting study, Kevin Fed. But, I agree, "Much more research is needed".

Kevin Fed

at 02:22 on July 3rd, 2009

Yeah true, much more research is required. But these kind of findings keep coming up.

sara star

at 06:03 on July 3rd, 2009

It makes sense to me that lack of personal contact may increases mental decline. There is less stimulation/exercise to the brain. Like anything, if you don't use it, you lose it.

Barbara McPherson

at 08:48 on July 3rd, 2009

This is interesting. I wonder if the genetic connection was considered. There was an extensive longitudinal study done following a group of nuns. The researchers could point out those most at risk of Alzheimer's by their writing skills when they were young adults.(We're all safe here at NP!) I wonder if those predisposed to A. have lessened social skills to start with. Doesn't explain those that are widowed tho.