Marital Status Linked to Dementia Risk in Older Adults

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Florida State University College of Medicine and University of Montpellier has revealed an unexpected association between marital status and dementia risk among older adults. The findings, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, challenge long-held beliefs about the protective benefits of marriage against cognitive decline.

Understanding the Study

The study, titled "Marital status and risk of dementia over 18 years: Surprising findings from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center," spanned an impressive 18-year period, during which more than 24,000 participants were evaluated. These individuals, all free from dementia at baseline, were enrolled from over 42 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers across the United States.

Annual clinical evaluations conducted by trained professionals included standardized protocols to assess cognitive function and detect dementia or mild cognitive impairment diagnoses. The aim was to explore the long-term implications of marital status on dementia risk.

Key Findings

The results of the study were enlightening:

• Overall Incidence: 20.1% of the total sample developed dementia during the study period.
• Married Participants: 21.9% of those who were married developed dementia.
• Widowed Participants: 21.9% also experienced dementia, mirroring the rate of their married counterparts.
• Divorced Participants: Only 12.8% developed dementia.
• Never-Married Participants: Even lower incidence at 12.4%.

Differential Risk Analysis

Using Cox proportional hazards regression models, researchers analyzed dementia risk while adjusting for various factors including demographic characteristics, mental health status, and genetic predispositions. The findings indicated:

Implications of the Findings

The results suggest that the divorced and never-married individuals had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to their married peers. This counters the traditional view that marital status inherently offers protective benefits against cognitive decline. Key insights include:

• The reduced risk for divorced (34% lower) and never-married (40% lower) individuals persisted even after considering numerous factors including health, behavioral, and genetic influences.
• The association between marital status and dementia was particularly pronounced for Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
• Progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia was less likely among divorced and never-married participants.

“These findings offer new evidence on how relationship status may relate to cognitive outcomes over time, indicating that being unmarried, contrary to traditional beliefs, might not increase vulnerability to cognitive decline.” – Dr. Selin Karakose, Lead Researcher

Conclusions

This study provides compelling evidence that challenges existing stereotypes regarding marital status and dementia risk. Contrary to previous thought, being divorced or never married could be associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline among older adults. The findings underscore the need for further research to understand the complex relationship between social connections, mental health, and neurocognitive outcomes.

To explore the full details of this research and its implications, refer to the original study: Marriage linked to higher dementia risk in older adults, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Literature Cited

[1] Karakose, S., et al. (2025). Marital status and risk of dementia over 18 years: Surprising findings from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, Alzheimer's & Dementia.

[2] National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. (2025). Data Repository: National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center.