The researchers from UC Davis found that having a sense of purpose in life may have another benefit as people age: reducing the risk of dementia. Research into Blue Zones, regions of the world where people tend to live longer, shows that having a sense of purpose in life may help people live longer and healthier lives.
To understand the effect of psychological well-being on dementia, the researchers followed over 13,000 adults aged 45 and older for up to 15 years. The study showed that people who had a higher sense of purpose in life were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
This protective effect was seen across racial and ethnic groups, and also remained significant even after accounting for education, depression, and the APOE4 gene, which is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.