Singles 'face Alzheimer's risk'

[dipsydoodle]

Being single when you reach middle age could mean more than having the house to yourself - it could increase your risk of dementia.

Swedish research, presented at a US conference, found that marriage or having a partner halved the risk of developing dementia.

Scientists believe social interaction between couples may ward off illness.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust said the results were worrying, given the high divorce rates in the UK.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7530867.stm

I've forgotten what was I saying...........something to do with banjos ? :rofl:

[NeedleCast]

1. It's a Trap!

Stay single!

[dipsydoodle]

2. You've reminded me

of the answer to the world's most expensive food ...........wedding cake :)

[elocs]

5. Yes, I am a firm believer that staying single is worth the risk.

Married people don't live longer, it just seems longer (I wonder who first said that? It really is very profound.)

[NeedleCast]

6. My Married Friends

provide an endless source of reminders of why I don't want to get married.

[elocs]

7. I can remember many moons ago when the guys I grew up with all got married

within a few years of each other, at each reception at least one would take me aside, put their arm around my shoulder and give me this sage advice: Never get married! I took that advice to heart and have not regretted doing so.

[NeedleCast]

13. About the Same here

and it's not the just the guys in lots of cases. I was at happy hour with a few buddies last night and the married guys (and girl) uniformly talk about nothing but their marriages and how much they hate them (one of the guys got in a big fight with his wife over the phone while we were there). Half my peer group (I'm 34) is divorced. Some are divorced more than once. The oldest guy that regularly hangs out with us is 37 and twice divorced with four kids. Dude makes 80K a year and is ass-broke because all his cash goes to paying child support. He bitches about it constantly, but ultimately, I can't help but think it's at least 50% his fault.

I just never have had any desire to be married, although as a single guy (and the last male member of my family) the pressure is fairly constant and honesty, from strange sources. My mom and dad actually don't give me much grief about it. At company or other "couples" parties you constantly get asked "so where's your wife?" and I tell people who already know that, believe it or not, I'm not married and don't want to be. Strange looks from people who know you are over 30 and not married. It's like they want you to come share in their misery. My extended family is large and matriarchal. I have two aunts, two uncles...all married with at least three kids each. Most of my cousins (age 36 to 20) are married (including the 20 year old). Of the married cousins, most have children. I just never got it. I can look back and say I have really, truly enjoyed my life and am a happy bachelor.

This is all not to say that I don't know some people who are happily married, but they seem few and far between.

[elocs]

18. I had an English teacher in high school who told us that if we we're married by 30

it would get harder and harder because we would get set in our ways. We were only 17 and figured what did she know, but she was right. By now I am set in stone, but I enjoy my own company and although I am alone I am not lonely. Staying single is difficult for a guy because getting married is the way you prove you are not gay, especially if you seem like you should be married. Of course, that didn't work well for my brother who after being married for 10 years and having 2 kids his wife announced that she was a lesbian and always had been one. So much for that theory.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. I loathe Bill Maher but he was right when he said "Married people are their own worst advertisement"

[Xipe Totec]

3. Maybe is self selection?

Maybe people who prefer to be single also happen to develop Alzheimer's?


Maybe if they got married they would be unhappy and still develop Alzheimer's?


Maybe there is no causality.....

[Gormy Cuss]

4. There is a lot of evidence that living with a long term partner is good for your overall health. .

My SO would disagree.
:rofl:

[Breeze54]

9. Oh great...even more good news about AD

:(

[alarimer]

10. I don't remember what I came in here for.

I don't even know what day it is.

Seriously though, this sounds like a spurious correlation.

[LostInAnomie]

11. There's always some kind of statistics coming out saying getting married is good for you.

And, usually the research is shady at best.

When they do the research they usually have to include people that aren't able to find a partner because of physical or mental issues. These people always skew the scale against single people.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. It isn't the status of being married or being hooked up with someone.

It's having someone to talk to. Since my mother died, my father has struggled to keep his mental faculties. Although they argued more than conversed, they kept each other's wits sharp, and now that's gone.

[treestar]

14. Just because you're single doesn't mean you're alone all the time

Even living alone doesn't mean you never talk to anyone or see anyone once you get home.

In fact, if you consider the internet to be somewhat social, you don't have to be alone even when alone.

[JuniperLea]

15. I like your pretty candle...

noonie noonie nooooo... la la la...

Oh hi! Were you talking to me?


:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

16. Dementia and middle aged singlehood? That's a happy life!

So being married and less demented is supposed to be more fun?

I don't think so.

[NickB79]

17. So, if living with one partner is good, does two partners make you doubly protected?

"Honey, you know how I've been asking about getting another woman involved in our relationship? I'm only thinking of our health, see."

[dysfunctional press]

19. i like the way this is going-

and i thought that getting another person to share expenses with when the financial collapse happens was going to be the way to go...:evilgrin: