Unmarried Denverites may have a lower dementia risk
Unmarried older adults in the U.S. were less likely to develop dementia than those who were married, according to a new study of 24,000 Americans.
Why it matters: That might be welcome news for Denverites, who census data shows are unmarried at significantly higher rates than the national average.
61% of people ages 20 and older are unmarried in the Mile High City; women are slightly more likely than men to be unwed.
State of play: The finding seems to contradict the long-held belief that marriage is associated with better cognitive health and longevity.
Context:"Widowed, divorced, and never-married older adults had a lower dementia risk, compared to their married counterparts," the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center researchers say, based on a study of adults aged 50+, who were tracked for up to 18 years.
Caveat: The study relied on volunteers — mostly white and married — so the findings may not reflect the broader U.S. population.
Between the lines: Previous research has linked marriage to positive health outcomes, including lower risk of heart disease, longer life expectancy and, ironically, even reduced dementia risk.
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