Many people seek a silver bullet that will help them age gracefully and maintain wellness in their later years. A growing body of research suggests there is an overlooked element that helps determine health status later in life: the health and wellness of one’s long-term partner. Researchers are finding that as long-term couples age together, they develop biological similarities that affect their health in the long run.
The most recent study on this topic analyzed the health data of more than 33,000 older adults in long-term relationships in Japan and the Netherlands. They found, in general, that couples tended to have comparable health statuses. For example, long-term partners tended to adopt the same lifestyle habits, such as smoking or physical activity levels. Beyond that, they were more likely to have similar cardiovascular risk factors — blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels were similar. They were also more likely to suffer from the same chronic health conditions, such as diabetes.
What’s going on here? Initially, researchers questioned whether this phenomenon was caused by “assertive mating” – a biological term that essentially means that people choose partners who are genetically similar to themselves. But researchers found the same results in couples who were genetically different. Instead, the data suggest that mutual lifestyle factors and outlooks have an important effect on health of long-term partners.
Other researchers are finding similar results. Shannon Mejia, a gerontologist at the University of Michigan, analyzed the health data of more than 1,500 Americans who have been married for decades. She found significant similarities in kidney function, total cholesterol, and grip strength; a key predictor of mortality of older adults.
The phenomenon doesn’t just apply to physical conditions. Social psychologist Christiane Hoppmann followed more than 1,700 long-term couples for 14 years. She found that as they aged, the couples experienced similar levels of difficulty with daily tasks, such as shopping for food, making a hot meal, and taking medications. In addition, if one partner had depression, the other was significantly more likely to develop depression as well. She also found that the couples changed in sync – their conditions improved or worsened at a similar time and rate.
The research shows that the overall outlook of your partner matters as well. A study out of Michigan State University followed nearly 2,000 couples – all over the age of 50 – for four years, tracking their physical function, self-rated health condition, and chronic illnesses. In addition, researchers surveyed participants to identify their levels of optimism. Not surprisingly, they found that those who were more optimistic reported better physical functioning and health, and fewer chronic illnesses. In addition, participants with optimistic partners were more likely to have better physical functioning and fewer chronic illnesses.
The take-home message: The research suggests that as people age together, their lifestyle choices and the environmental factors around them contribute to a shared health status. This research underscores the significance of choosing a life-long mate and points to another factor health-care providers can consider when evaluating the health of aging patients.
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