{"id":56977,"date":"2025-09-11T09:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T09:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/56977\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T09:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T09:43:09","slug":"purpose-in-life-linked-to-28-lower-risk-of-cognitive-impairment-and-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/56977\/","title":{"rendered":"Purpose in Life Linked to 28% Lower Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Business<\/a>A UC Davis study shows that a strong sense of purpose may lower the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Credit: Shutterstock
\nA new study suggests that psychological well-being may be crucial for healthy aging.<\/p>\n

Studies of Blue Zones<\/a>, regions where people commonly live to older ages, suggest that a strong sense of purpose<\/a> is linked with longer life.<\/p>\n

New research from UC Davis<\/a> indicates that purpose may offer another advantage as people get older: a lower risk of dementia.<\/p>\n

The study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, tracked more than 13,000 adults aged 45 and above for up to 15 years.<\/p>\n

Participants who reported a higher sense of purpose were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia.<\/p>\n

\"Aliza<\/a>Aliza Wingo, senior author of the study, is a professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Credit: UC Davis Health<\/p>\n

The protective effect of having a purpose was seen across racial and ethnic groups. It also remained significant even after accounting for education, depression and the APOE4<\/a> gene, which is a known risk factor for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

Purpose in life helps the brain stay resilient<\/p>\n

\u201cOur findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age,\u201d said Aliza Wingo, senior author and professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. \u201cEven for people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer\u2019s disease, sense of purpose was linked to a later onset and lower likelihood of developing dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants were not specifically asked about the activities that gave their life purpose. Previous studies on aging, though, have found a wide range of activities give older adults a sense of life purpose, sometimes referred to as \u201cikigai<\/a>.\u201d These include:<\/p>\n