Marriage linked to longer life
Saying ‘I do’ may be key to a healthy old age, according to new research. Researchers say the biological clock ticks more slowly in couples. A study found that telomeres, which protect the body’s chromosomes and the DNA they contain, tend to be bigger among couples – particularly those who are financially secure.
Saying ‘I do’ may be key to a healthy old age, according to new research.
Researchers say the biological clock ticks more slowly in couples. A study found that telomeres, which protect the body’s chromosomes and the DNA they contain, tend to be bigger among couples – particularly those who are financially secure.
This limits damage to cells, meaning being married probably makes people less prone to cancer and heart disease.
The Taiwanese study, published in the journal Age And Ageing, examined 300 adults aged 65 to 74 years. The authors said their study found that unmarried, widowed or single older adults had shorter telomeres while couples and older adults with higher incomes were associated with longer telomeres.
Short telomeres have been linked to the incidence of cancer, particularly among white and Asian people.
The authors added: “Older adults with higher income [were] found to be significantly associated with longer telomere length compared to those with lower income.
“The relationship between income and telomere is not accounted for by physical diseases, mental state and neighbourhood experience,” they said, warning unmarried older adults or those with lower income may be experiencing accelerated cellular ageing.
“Having a sense of being loved, respected and cared for by another person over a significant length of time can only be beneficial to someone’s wellbeing.
“In this day and age when marriage is not as fashionable as it was and divorce rates are high, there can be a tendency in society to look upon commitment as a burden. So it is refreshing to see the emphasis back on the positive side of marriage,” researchers said.
