Latest news with #NationalAlzheimer'sCoordinatingCenter
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Shock study shows marriage is linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease
Would you believe me if I told you that staying single or ending your marriage could lower your odds of getting dementia? A new study led by researchers at Florida State University somewhat shockingly suggests that unmarried people are less likely to develop dementia. If you think you've heard the opposite, you are correct. A 2019 study from America found that unmarried people had 'significantly higher odds of developing dementia over the study period than their married counterparts'. Indeed, married people are generally thought to have better health. Studies have shown that they are at reduced risk of having heart disease and stroke and they tend to live longer. So why did the new study come up with this surprising finding? Let's take a closer look. The researchers analysed data from more than 24,000 Americans without dementia at the start of the study. Participants were tracked for up to 18 years. Crucially, the team compared dementia rates across marital groups: married, divorced, widowed and never-married. At first, it looked as though all three unmarried groups had a reduced risk of dementia compared with the married group. But, after accounting for other factors that could influence the results such as smoking and depression, only divorced and never-married people had a lower risk of dementia. Differences were also seen depending on the type of dementia. For example, being unmarried was consistently linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. But it was not shown for vascular dementia – a rarer form of the condition. The researchers also found that divorced or never-married people were less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and that people who became widowed during the study had a lower risk of dementia. Possible explanations One reason for the unexpected results? Married people might be diagnosed earlier because they have spouses who notice memory problems and push for a doctor's visit. This could make dementia look more common in married people – even if it's not. This is called ascertainment bias — when data is skewed because of who gets diagnosed or noticed more easily. However, the evidence of this was not strong. All participants had annual visits from a doctor, who could be thought of as a proxy partner who would spot early signs of dementia in the participant. Perhaps it was the case that the sample of people used, from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) study, was not representative of the wider population. Specifically, the sample showed low levels of ethnic and income diversity. Also, nearly 64% of the participants were married. This may affect how these unexpected findings translate to the wider world. They could just have been unique to NACC participants. However, it is more likely that these findings highlight just how complex the effects of marital disruptions, transitions and choices on brain health really are. Being married is by no means an established protective factor for dementia, with an earlier meta-analysis (a study of studies) showing mixed results. The new study from Florida State University uses one of the biggest samples to date to examine this issue, and carries a good deal of weight. It highlights that assumptions based on previous research that widowhood and divorce are very stressful life events that can trigger Alzheimer's disease or that unmarried people are socially isolated and therefore may be at higher risk of dementia, may not always be correct. Relationship dynamics are by no means straightforward. As mentioned in the paper, such dynamics may 'provide a more nuanced understanding than a simple binary effect'. Factors such as marriage quality, levels of satisfaction after divorce, cultural considerations, or the sociability of single people compared with coupled ones may help explain these seemingly contradictory results. This study challenges the idea that marriage is automatically good for brain health. Instead, it suggests the effect of relationships on dementia is far more complex. What matters might not be your relationship status but how supported, connected and fulfilled you feel.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Twist as marriage now linked to an increased risk of dementia
Would you believe me if I told you that staying single or ending your marriage could lower your odds of getting dementia? A new study led by researchers at Florida State University somewhat shockingly suggests that unmarried people are less likely to develop dementia. If you think you've heard the opposite, you are correct. A 2019 study from America found that unmarried people had 'significantly higher odds of developing dementia over the study period than their married counterparts'. Indeed, married people are generally thought to have better health. Studies have shown that they are at reduced risk of having heart disease and stroke and they tend to live longer. So why did the new study come up with this surprising finding? Let's take a closer look. The researchers analysed data from more than 24,000 Americans without dementia at the start of the study. Participants were tracked for up to 18 years. Crucially, the team compared dementia rates across marital groups: married, divorced, widowed and never-married. At first, it looked as though all three unmarried groups had a reduced risk of dementia compared with the married group. But, after accounting for other factors that could influence the results such as smoking and depression, only divorced and never-married people had a lower risk of dementia. Differences were also seen depending on the type of dementia. For example, being unmarried was consistently linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. But it was not shown for vascular dementia – a rarer form of the condition. The researchers also found that divorced or never-married people were less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and that people who became widowed during the study had a lower risk of dementia. Possible explanations One reason for the unexpected results? Married people might be diagnosed earlier because they have spouses who notice memory problems and push for a doctor's visit. This could make dementia look more common in married people – even if it's not. This is called ascertainment bias — when data is skewed because of who gets diagnosed or noticed more easily. However, the evidence of this was not strong. All participants had annual visits from a doctor, who could be thought of as a proxy partner who would spot early signs of dementia in the participant. Perhaps it was the case that the sample of people used, from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) study, was not representative of the wider population. Specifically, the sample showed low levels of ethnic and income diversity. Also, nearly 64% of the participants were married. This may affect how these unexpected findings translate to the wider world. They could just have been unique to NACC participants. However, it is more likely that these findings highlight just how complex the effects of marital disruptions, transitions and choices on brain health really are. Being married is by no means an established protective factor for dementia, with an earlier meta-analysis (a study of studies) showing mixed results. The new study from Florida State University uses one of the biggest samples to date to examine this issue, and carries a good deal of weight. It highlights that assumptions based on previous research that widowhood and divorce are very stressful life events that can trigger Alzheimer's disease or that unmarried people are socially isolated and therefore may be at higher risk of dementia, may not always be correct. Relationship dynamics are by no means straightforward. As mentioned in the paper, such dynamics may 'provide a more nuanced understanding than a simple binary effect'. Factors such as marriage quality, levels of satisfaction after divorce, cultural considerations, or the sociability of single people compared with coupled ones may help explain these seemingly contradictory results. This study challenges the idea that marriage is automatically good for brain health. Instead, it suggests the effect of relationships on dementia is far more complex. What matters might not be your relationship status but how supported, connected and fulfilled you feel.
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Now being married has been linked to an increased risk of dementia
Would you believe me if I told you that staying single or ending your marriage could lower your odds of getting dementia? A new study led by researchers at Florida State University somewhat shockingly suggests that unmarried people are less likely to develop dementia. If you think you've heard the opposite, you are correct. A 2019 study from America found that unmarried people had 'significantly higher odds of developing dementia over the study period than their married counterparts'. Indeed, married people are generally thought to have better health. Studies have shown that they are at reduced risk of having heart disease and stroke and they tend to live longer. So why did the new study come up with this surprising finding? Let's take a closer look. The researchers analysed data from more than 24,000 Americans without dementia at the start of the study. Participants were tracked for up to 18 years. Crucially, the team compared dementia rates across marital groups: married, divorced, widowed and never-married. At first, it looked as though all three unmarried groups had a reduced risk of dementia compared with the married group. But, after accounting for other factors that could influence the results such as smoking and depression, only divorced and never-married people had a lower risk of dementia. Differences were also seen depending on the type of dementia. For example, being unmarried was consistently linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. But it was not shown for vascular dementia – a rarer form of the condition. The researchers also found that divorced or never-married people were less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and that people who became widowed during the study had a lower risk of dementia. Possible explanations One reason for the unexpected results? Married people might be diagnosed earlier because they have spouses who notice memory problems and push for a doctor's visit. This could make dementia look more common in married people – even if it's not. This is called ascertainment bias — when data is skewed because of who gets diagnosed or noticed more easily. However, the evidence of this was not strong. All participants had annual visits from a doctor, who could be thought of as a proxy partner who would spot early signs of dementia in the participant. Perhaps it was the case that the sample of people used, from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) study, was not representative of the wider population. Specifically, the sample showed low levels of ethnic and income diversity. Also, nearly 64% of the participants were married. This may affect how these unexpected findings translate to the wider world. They could just have been unique to NACC participants. However, it is more likely that these findings highlight just how complex the effects of marital disruptions, transitions and choices on brain health really are. Being married is by no means an established protective factor for dementia, with an earlier meta-analysis (a study of studies) showing mixed results. The new study from Florida State University uses one of the biggest samples to date to examine this issue, and carries a good deal of weight. It highlights that assumptions based on previous research that widowhood and divorce are very stressful life events that can trigger Alzheimer's disease or that unmarried people are socially isolated and therefore may be at higher risk of dementia, may not always be correct. Relationship dynamics are by no means straightforward. As mentioned in the paper, such dynamics may 'provide a more nuanced understanding than a simple binary effect'. Factors such as marriage quality, levels of satisfaction after divorce, cultural considerations, or the sociability of single people compared with coupled ones may help explain these seemingly contradictory results. This study challenges the idea that marriage is automatically good for brain health. Instead, it suggests the effect of relationships on dementia is far more complex. What matters might not be your relationship status but how supported, connected and fulfilled you feel.
Axios
07-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
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.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Flying Solo May Protect Your Brain, New Research Finds
In an era where marriage has long been lauded as a linchpin of mental and emotional well-being, emerging research is disrupting the narrative. A comprehensive new study from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) suggests that remaining unmarried—whether by choice or by circumstance—may actually protect against dementia, contradicting decades of assumptions in medical and social science circles. The findings, recently published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, tracked over 24,000 older adults for up to 18 years, exploring how marital status intersected with the risk of developing cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). The result? Those who were widowed, divorced, or had never married exhibited significantly lower dementia risk compared to married peers. Among the most striking statistics: These associations remained robust even after controlling for a wide swath of variables, including demographics, clinical histories, behavioral health, and even genetic predispositions. Contrary to long-held assumptions about the protective power of marriage, the data reveals a subtler truth: marriage is not a universal cognitive safeguard, and in some cases, it may even pose a risk. Historically, the 'marital resource model' posits that spouses provide mutual emotional, financial, and social support, contributing to better health and longevity. But as society evolves—along with its definitions of intimacy, companionship, and independence—so too must our interpretation of how relationships impact health. The study's authors note a critical pivot: while marriage may offer certain structural benefits, the psychological toll of caregiving, spousal illness, or enduring toxic dynamics can erode cognitive resilience. Divorced individuals, for example, may experience a psychological renaissance—greater life satisfaction and personal autonomy—that acts as a buffer against neurodegeneration. Interestingly, divorced and never-married individuals not only had a lower risk of Alzheimer's and LBD but also showed reduced progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to full-blown dementia. This finding raises provocative questions: could autonomy and diversified social engagement among the unmarried actually nurture cognitive health? One caveat emerges: could married individuals receive earlier diagnoses due to a partner's observation? Married people are more likely to undergo routine checkups and have symptoms flagged early by concerned spouses. Unmarried individuals—particularly those living alone—may not seek medical help until symptoms are more advanced, possibly skewing diagnosis timelines. However, the study accounted for referral source (professional vs. self/relative) and reason for visiting the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (clinical vs. research)—and still found persistent, statistically significant associations. This suggests the findings are more than mere artifacts of healthcare-seeking behavior. The protective effect of being unmarried was slightly more pronounced in men, younger participants, and those referred professionally. However, stratified analyses indicated that marital status impacted dementia risk consistently, regardless of a person's education, depression level, or genetic risk factors (e.g., APOE-e4 status). This democratization of findings across subgroups underscores the robustness of the data—and the importance of moving beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions about marriage and cognitive health. We are, perhaps, in the midst of a cultural neuro-reckoning. With marriage rates declining and the number of never-married older adults rising, the dominant societal narrative that equates matrimony with wellness is increasingly untenable. This research doesn't villainize marriage—it contextualizes it. In some cases, marriage is cognitively nourishing. In others, mainly when marred by stress or constrained autonomy, it may be mentally depleting. As divorce becomes more normalized and singlehood more empowered, we must reframe cognitive resilience as a function not of marital status but of social richness, psychological safety, and agency. The researchers behind this study call for more nuanced investigations into relationship quality, not just marital labels. Future work must explore how companionship, chosen family, social stimulation, and lifestyle habits mediate brain health—both inside and outside traditional marital frameworks. In the meantime, the takeaway is clear: unmarried does not mean unwell. For many, it may mean cognitively liberated.
