Staying single might decrease dementia risk, says new study

Cognitive benefits of marriage may depend on its quality, says UCI Health expert

IN THE NEWS: New research in Alzheimer's & Dementia has shown that contrary to popular belief, unmarried older adults ― single, divorced or widowed ― have a lower risk of developing dementia compared to their married counterparts.

Hayley B. Kristinsson, a neuropsychologist at UCI Health, recently spoke with MDLinx about the implications of the research, which she was not a part of.

“We know that social connection is beneficial for cognitive health, [but this study] challenges the long-held notion that marriage is a protective factor in the risk of developing dementia.”

She shared that the findings might also point to the cognitive health benefits of high-quality and happy marriages.

“[Other] studies have shown that individuals in unhappy marriages are more likely to be at risk of poor health outcomes, suggesting that marriage quality plays a role in the association between marriage and risk of dementia.”

According to Kristinsson, research continues to show that social connection benefits overall cognitive health.

“Whether that occurs within the context of marriage or being single is likely less important than the social connection itself.”

Ultimately, further research is needed to validate the claim that marriage status increases or decreases overall dementia risk.

Kristinsson is board-certified neuropsychologist at UCI Health Psychiatry Services whose clinical interests include memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive issues in aging, neuropsychological testing and neurological disorders. She is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Neurology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

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