Living with a spouse or a partner decreases the risk of developing
Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases. This according to a study by
Krister Håkansson, researcher in psychology at Växjö University and
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. The results were presented for the first
time yesterday at the world's largest dementia conference.
"This is, for me, an overwhelming start," says Mr Håkansson. "It's the
first study I've done in this field, and the results are astounding.
They indicate a very strong correlation between this type of social
factor and the risk of developing dementia."
The new findings are based on data from a Finnish study, which was
unique in that 2,000 people were examined at the age of around 50 and
again twenty-one years later. Normally, dementia researchers only study
late-life individuals. Previous research has shown that an active
lifestyle, both intellectually and socially, can decrease the risk of
developing dementia; since a shared life often entails considerable
social and intellectual stimulation, the point of inquiry of this
present study was whether living with a spouse or a partner can help to
ward off dementia.
The results show that people living with a spouse or a partner in
midlife ran a 50 per cent lower risk of developing dementia than people
living alone, even when controlled for other risk factors, such as age.
Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases. This according to a study by
Krister Håkansson, researcher in psychology at Växjö University and
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. The results were presented for the first
time yesterday at the world's largest dementia conference.
"This is, for me, an overwhelming start," says Mr Håkansson. "It's the
first study I've done in this field, and the results are astounding.
They indicate a very strong correlation between this type of social
factor and the risk of developing dementia."
The new findings are based on data from a Finnish study, which was
unique in that 2,000 people were examined at the age of around 50 and
again twenty-one years later. Normally, dementia researchers only study
late-life individuals. Previous research has shown that an active
lifestyle, both intellectually and socially, can decrease the risk of
developing dementia; since a shared life often entails considerable
social and intellectual stimulation, the point of inquiry of this
present study was whether living with a spouse or a partner can help to
ward off dementia.
The results show that people living with a spouse or a partner in
midlife ran a 50 per cent lower risk of developing dementia than people
living alone, even when controlled for other risk factors, such as age.
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