Love, Marriage, Friendship, & Your Brain
Written by Kathryn Savage
What does love, marriage, and belonging to a core group of friends have in common? Evidently, the health of your brain. Studies show that socializing may prevent against memory loss. Consequently, the loss of a spouse - and presumed isolation - increases risk for developing dementia. Much like muscles that need to be toned to stay fit, we're social creatures, and our brains need stimulation to stay healthy. 
Recent research indicates that marriage and divorce increase Alzheimer’s risk. Scientists have found that coupled-up middle age adults, whether married or living with a partner, were 50 percent less likely to develop “dementia during their older years than people living alone.”
But before you sign up for Match.com, or call up that old flame, there is another factor to consider. The duration of your swinging singles, and why you’re single, also plays a part. Being single, without the ups and downs of divorce, doubles your risk for dementia, while ending marriage in divorce, and remaining single through your middle life, “showed three times the risk.”
Bad breakup? Prenup? Start batting for the other team? The mode of grand finale matters, too. Widowers, especially those who lost their spouse in middle age, who never remarry, have the highest chance of developing dementia and are six times more at risk for developing Alzheimer’s.
This is all fine and well until, you know, life gets in the way and then it feels like your body is acting like your mother, “just meet a nice boy, get married already.” In actuality, what this may be pointing out, is that after a traumatic event, some people don’t bounce back. These studies underscore that it is important to seek help whether that be through friends, family, therapy, or sure, Match.com, and focus on healing when we experience big life trauma. The ability to move on and continue to engage in meaningful relationships seems to be a great way to reduce your risk for certain age related diseases.
Remarrying just isn't in the cards? Friendship is a great way to reduce memory loss. In a Harvard School of Public Health study, conducted between the years 1998 and 2004, participants, age 50 and older, who were socially active, appeared to have the lowest rate of memory decline. Better yet, the nature of the bond didn’t matter. In other words, gab with your kids, shoot the breeze with the barista, you’ll get the positive and protective effects just by getting out there and engaging other people in conversation.
So, how are you today?
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