A lasting marriage and having children reduce the risk of developing dementia as you age, according to a new study.
- A cognitive disorder or decline corresponds to an alteration of one or more cognitive functions: memory, planning, attention, language, social cognition, etc.
- Although Alzheimer’s disease is rare before age 65 (2% of the population), it then increases rapidly to reach 15% of the population at age 80.
Do you need a rational reason to take the plunge and unite your destiny with that of your partner? A norwegian university of science and technology study confirms that being married to “continuous way for many years” reduces the risk of developing dementia as you age.
Being married reduces the risk of cognitive decline
To verify the impact of marital status on health, the researchers used information collected by the Trøndelag Health Study, a study that has brought together the medical records of volunteer residents of the Norwegian region of Trøndelag since 1984. They examined data from participants over a 24-year period and investigated whether or not being in a relationship was related to a clinical diagnosis of dementia after the age of 70.
They found that people who had been continuously married throughout those two decades had a lower incidence rate of dementia. On the contrary, divorced and single people showed more cognitive impairment as they aged.
“Exactly what causes dementia is a mystery. This survey indicates that being married and a lower risk of dementia are linked, but we don’t know why”says Asta Håberg, a doctor at St. Olav’s Hospital and a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in a communicated.
The researcher adds that a “theory is that married people lead healthier lives, and this explains the differences in risk of various diseases”. However, she acknowledges that her team has not “found no evidence of health differences between married and unmarried individuals that would explain the observed difference in dementia risk”.
Having children delays dementia
Being in a relationship for many years would not be the only “AVERAGE” to avoid dementia. Starting a family and having children also seem to have a beneficial influence. According to the data collected, this reduces the risk of dementia by 60% in unmarried people.
“Some researchers have hypothesized that if you have children, you stay more cognitively engaged. For example, you have to deal with people and participate in activities that you wouldn’t otherwise have to do. your brain and that can cause it to work better. That way you build up a kind of cognitive reserve.”says Dr. Asta Håberg.
Nevertheless, some people who are married, have children or have studied (another beneficial factor against dementia) develop Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers therefore argue that this reserve would mainly have a delaying effect.
