Dementia risk 'higher for middle-aged living alone'

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 10:00

MIDDLE-AGED people who live alone have double the risk of dementia compared with those who are married or have a partner, researchers said today.

There is a "substantial" link between marital status and dementia and having a partner appears to offer protection against mental decline in later life, they said.

A study showed that people who live alone in middle-age and are widowed or divorced are three times more likely to develop dementia.