Does Your Life Have Purpose? Defense Against Dementia!

Older people who feel that they have a purpose in life are less likely to develop cognitive impairment. That kind of dementia protection may extend even to individuals with an inherited genetic predisposition for brain deterioration. This conclusion comes from the Health and Retirement Study, which followed more than 13,000 adults for up to 15 years (American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Oct. 2025). Can people maintain life purpose even after retirement as a defense against dementia? The answer is YES!

Purpose! Your Defense Against Dementia:

My uncle Gene had a phrase he liked to share as he got older:

“It’s not how long you live, but HOW you live that counts”

That is a motto that reinforces the results of the Health and Retirement Study. The good news is that how you live may also influence how long you will live without cognitive impairment.

Personally, I cannot imagine living to a “ripe old age” in a demented state. Not being able to remember loved ones or maintain personal hygiene seems to me like a disappointing end. That’s why I was intrigued by this study of “purpose-in-life (PiL).”

According to the authors, PiL is:

“…defined as a person’s tendency to derive meaning from and make sense of life experiences.”

The Health and Retirement Study collected data between 2006 and 2020. There were 13,765 participants. The researchers wanted to know if purpose in life (PiL) impacted “the incidence of MCI [mild cognitive impairment] or dementia.”

PiL (Purpose in Life) as a Defense Against Dementia:

Here is how the authors summarize their findings:

“In a U.S. population-representative cohort that includes individuals of ages spanning the presymptomatic period for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, we found that having higher PiL was associated with approximately 28% lower risk for developing cognitive impairment compared to having lower PiL after accounting for age, sex, education, depressive symptoms, and APOE E4…The observed reduction in cognitive impairment risk by PiL signifies palpable contributions to healthy aging. These results verify and reinforce upon previous studies regarding PiL and cognitive decline.”

If you are wondering what APOE E4 is all about, it is a genetic marker that makes someone more susceptible to Alzheimer disease. The authors note that people with an APOE E4 genetic marker still benefited from a strong PiL score.

They also noted that:

“…participants with higher PiL had a later onset age for cognitive impairment compared to participants with lower PiL…”

The researchers involved in this study are at the University of California, Davis. Some were quoted in a report from Lisa Howard for UC Davis Health:

Nicholas C. Howard, first author and public health researcher at UC Davis pointed out that:

“Purpose in life is free, safe and accessible. It’s something people can build through relationships, goals and meaningful activities.”

Professor Aliza Wingo, MD, is in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

She added:

“Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age. Even among people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, having a strong sense of purpose was linked to better cognitive outcomes.”

Professor Thomas Wingo, MD, is a neurologist at UC Davis Health.

I found his comment the most encouraging:

“What’s exciting about this study is that people may be able to ‘think’ themselves into better health. Purpose in life is something we can nurture. It’s never too early — or too late — to start thinking about what gives your life meaning.”

How Would You Know If Your Life Has Purpose and Is a Defense Against Dementia?

Work:

What does PiL (Purpose in Life) mean to you? It will be different for each person. I have a friend who is working full time in his mid-80s. He gets a great deal of meaning in his life by helping people solve problems. He sometimes describes friends who retired in their 60s and then lost their purpose. He has observed them start to go downhill after they began watching a lot of daytime TV or playing golf as their only physical activity.

Volunteering:

Each person has to find their own purpose in life. For many, it is volunteering or mentoring others. Some people find that helping their community gives them meaning. That may be by working at animal shelters or food banks. Others deliver meals, join garden or book clubs, run for public office or serve on community boards.

Spirituality:

Many people find meaning in their faith. Spirituality can take many forms and joining a faith-based community can be gratifying.

Helping Others:

Helping friends and family can also provide purpose in life. Little acts of kindness can provide a tremendous sense of connection and meaning.

Traveling:

Lots of people find travel a meaningful way to expand horizons. Being out in nature can also provide purpose. Meeting new people and observing other cultures can be incredibly satisfying.

Relationships:

Tending to relationships can be one of the most gratifying and meaningful actions for people. We had the honor of interviewing Dr. Robert Waldinger on our nationally syndicated radio show. He is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and cofounder of the Lifespan Research Foundation.

His book, The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness, is a masterpiece. If you want to get a sense of why nurturing relationships helps provide people purpose in life, please take a few minutes to listen to our radio show with Dr. Waldinger. The podcast can be found at this link.  Just click on the arrow inside the green circle under Dr. Waldinger’s photograph.

Final Words: Defense Against Dementia:

There are many ways to reduce your risk of developing dementia. We have written about some of them at these links:

Will Your Diet Help You Avoid Dementia?

Simple Steps to Stay Sharp and Prevent Dementia

Can Lithium in Water or a Supplement Prevent Alzheimer Disease or Dementia?

Mental Challenges Delay Dementia

Forgetfulness or Worse: Are Medications Raising Your Risk for Dementia?

Will Gum Disease Boost Your Risk for Dementia?

We can now Add Purpose in Life…A Defense Against Dementia:

We would love to read what gives you purpose in life (PiL). Please take a minute to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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