Married couples ‘less likely to develop dementia’

People who are married may be less likely to develop dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions, according to a new study.

The University College London research looked at the potential role of marital status on dementia risk among more than 800,000 people assessed in 15 studies taking place in Europe, North and South America, and Asia.

Compared with those who were married, lifelong singletons were 42 percent more likely to develop dementia, with the increased risk standing at 20 percent for those whose spouses had died.

Part of this risk might be explained by poorer physical health among lifelong single people, while bereavement has been shown to boost stress levels, resulting in impaired nerve signalling and cognitive abilities.

Dr Andrew Sommerlad, of University College London's psychiatry department, said: "We hope that our findings could be applied to support dementia prevention among unmarried people, as maintaining physical health and ensuring mental stimulation through social engagement among unmarried older people may be beneficial."

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