People living in the so-called “Blue Zones” — areas in the world where people often live to be 100 or older — tend to have something in common: they live with a strong sense of purpose.
Now, new research from the University of California, Davis suggests that having a purpose in life might not just help people live longer, but also protect their brain as they grow older.
The study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, followed more than 13,000 adults aged 45 and older for up to 15 years. It found that people who had a stronger sense of purpose were about 28% less likely to develop problems with memory and thinking, including conditions like mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
This benefit was found across different racial and ethnic groups. It also held true even after considering other important factors like education, depression, and whether people had the APOE4 gene, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Professor Aliza Wingo, one of the lead researchers from UC Davis, “Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age.”
She explained that even people who had a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s still benefited if they had a strong sense of purpose — they were likely to develop dementia later than those without purpose.
In this study, people were not asked what gave their life purpose. However, past research shows that many different things can make people feel their life has meaning.
This includes spending time with family, volunteering, continuing to work or mentor others, being involved in religion or spiritual communities, having hobbies or learning new things, and helping others through kindness or caregiving. In Japan, the idea of having a life purpose is often called “ikigai.”
The researchers also noticed that people with a greater sense of purpose didn’t just have a lower risk of dementia — their cognitive decline started later.
On average, those with high purpose had a delay of about 1.4 months in the start of cognitive decline over an eight-year period. While that might seem small, it is comparable to or better than some dementia medications currently available, and it doesn’t come with side effects.
Nicholas C. Howard, the study’s first author, pointed out that unlike expensive drugs that may have risks, “Purpose in life is free, safe, and accessible.” He said it’s something people can build at any time in their life by focusing on relationships, setting goals, or doing meaningful activities.
The study used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a national survey supported by the National Institute on Aging. All participants started the study with normal cognitive function.
They answered questions about their well-being and purpose using a seven-question survey. They were then given a telephone-based memory and thinking test every two years.
Although the study didn’t prove that having a purpose causes lower dementia risk, the large number of participants and consistent results suggest a strong connection.
According to co-author Thomas Wingo, a neurologist at UC Davis Health, these findings support the idea that mental and emotional well-being are key to healthy aging. He hopes future studies will test whether helping people build a sense of purpose can actually prevent dementia.
“What’s exciting about this study is that people may be able to ‘think’ themselves into better health,” said Wingo. “It’s never too early — or too late — to start thinking about what gives your life meaning.”
In summary, this research adds to a growing body of evidence that our mindset and life goals can affect our physical and mental health. Building a strong sense of purpose may help protect our brain and keep us healthier for longer.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about a simple solution to fight dementia and big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
For more health information, please read studies that people who take high blood pressure medications have lower dementia risk and early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50.
The study is published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
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