Having a goal reduces the risk of dementia

Scientists have been monitoring more than 13,000 adults aged 45 and over for 15 years. At the beginning of the study, all participants had normal cognitive performance. Using a questionnaire based on the Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-being methodology (Effective indicators of psychological well-being)  They assessed their own sense of purpose and direction in life.

Every two years, their memory and attention were checked by telephone testing. Those with a higher sense of meaning in life showed better cognitive health outcomes and later experienced signs of memory decline.

“Our data show that having a purpose in life helps the brain to remain resistant to age—related changes for longer,” said Professor Aliza Uingo, senior author of the study. According to her, even in people with a hereditary predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, the manifestations of dementia were postponed to a later date if they felt that their lives were filled with meaning.

The experts did not limit the participants in what exactly fills their lives with purpose. Previously, similar studies have shown that the sources can be very different:

• caring for loved ones and family;
• work or volunteering;
• spiritual practices and faith;
• personal goals and hobbies;
• helping other people.

Although the difference in the timing of cognitive impairment was insignificant — on average, about 1.4 months of delay over eight years of follow—up – the researchers emphasize its practical value. Unlike medications, which produce similar results but come with risks and side effects, a sense of purpose is “a free and safe resource available to everyone.”

The authors note that although the link between life purpose and cognitive health is clearly traced, the work has not yet proved that it is the presence of a goal that directly protects the brain from dementia. Nevertheless, the scale of the study and the duration of the observation make the conclusions weighty.

According to Professor Thomas Wingo, the results confirm that psychological well-being plays a key role in healthy aging. “It is important that a sense of meaning can be developed at any age. It’s not something fixed. We can consciously shape what makes our lives fulfilling and meaningful,” he notes.