A Sense of Purpose May Protect the Ageing Brain

By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA team.

A middle aged African father teaching his son how to write. Image Credit: Freepik

Nobody likes the thought of losing their memory, yet for many people that fear becomes real, sometimes after an injury, other times due to illnesses such as dementia. You may have heard that eating healthy and staying active are good for your brain health but what if something as simple as having a sense of purpose could also protect your brain function from decline? A new study suggests that people who live with a clear sense of purpose are less likely to develop cognitive (higher order brain function) problems as they age.

About the Study

The study followed over 13,700 adults aged 45 and above who initially had no signs of cognitive impairment and the researchers used data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States, a large and long-running project that tracks health, lifestyle and psychological factors in older adults.

At the beginning of the research, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to measure their “purpose in life”. This included questions about whether they felt their life had direction, whether they had meaningful goals and if they felt motivated to live each day. Over the next eight years, the participants’ memory and thinking abilities were tested regularly to see who went on to develop cognitive problems.

The researchers then used advanced statistical models to compare those with a strong sense of purpose to those who reported little or no purpose. They also adjusted for several factors that could influence brain health such as age, education, depression and even genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease to make the findings as accurate as possible.

What the Study Found

People who reported a stronger sense of purpose were about 28 percent less likely to have memory and thinking problems compared to those who felt their lives lacked direction. In simple terms, having clear goals and feeling that one’s life has meaning seems to protect the brain over time. Even after considering age, gender, education level and race, the association remained strong.

Interestingly, this link also held true among participants who carried a known genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. That means that even genes did not completely erase the potential benefit of living with purpose.

Beyond risk reduction, the study also found that people with higher purpose tended to develop cognitive problems later than others. The delay was not huge, just over a month on average, but across a large population, even small delays can translate into significant public health benefits. The researchers concluded that purpose in life might act as a psychological buffer, slowing down the processes that lead to memory and thinking skills declining.

Why This Matters for Africans

Although the research study was focused on participants in the United States, the human brain ages in similar ways everywhere and the same biological processes that lead to memory loss such as inflammation, stress and vascular problems also occur in Africans too. This means that factors that protect the brain in one population (Americans) may also do the same in another (Africans).

This study is particularly relevant because many Africans already live within communities that naturally encourage purpose. Whether through family responsibilities, religious activities or community leadership, most people find meaning in caring for others and contributing to their society. This sense of belonging and usefulness might be one reason why elders in traditional communities often remain mentally sharp even in their later years.

However, modern life can sometimes erode that sense of purpose as unemployment, loneliness and migration can leave people feeling disconnected or unsure of their place. If this study’s findings are anything to go by, such loss of meaning could be more than emotional as it could also affect brain health. The good news is that purpose is not fixed and it can be rediscovered, nurtured and strengthened at any age.

How Can You Build Purpose?

Although the study did not prescribe how to build purpose, it’s clear that purposeful living can take many forms. For some, it might mean taking an active role in family or community life—caring for grandchildren, volunteering in local projects or mentoring younger people. For others, purpose might come from faith, creative pursuits or personal goals like learning new skills or starting a small business. What matters most is feeling that your daily activities have meaning and that your efforts contribute to something beyond yourself.

Having purpose may also encourage healthy habits that protect the brain in other ways as people with direction tend to sleep better, eat healthier, stay socially engaged and manage stress more effectively—all of which are known to reduce the risk of dementia. In that sense, purpose may not only have psychological benefits but also ripple effects across one’s overall well-being.

Limitations of the Study

It’s important to note that this study was observational, meaning it cannot prove that purpose directly prevents cognitive impairment. It’s possible that people who already have healthier brains also feel more purposeful, rather than purpose being the cause.

More research, especially in African populations, will be needed to confirm whether increasing one’s sense of purpose can truly delay or prevent memory decline. Still, the findings align with what many cultures have long believed, that life is richer and healthier when lived with meaning.

Wrap Up

The study adds an intriguing new piece to the puzzle of healthy aging. It shows that beyond physical activity, diet and medication, our mindset and sense of direction in life may also shape how well our brains function in later years.

Living with purpose—whatever form it takes—may not only make life more fulfilling but could also help preserve our memory, clarity and dignity as we age. In the end, protecting our minds might begin not just with what we eat or how we move but with why we wake up each morning.

Source: Howard NC, Gerasimov ES, Wingo TS, Wingo AP. Life Purpose Lowers Risk for Cognitive Impairment in a United States Population-Based Cohort. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025 Oct;33(10):1021-1031. Available from here

Related:

Elder Volunteering Improves Memory and Thinking Skills, Study Shows

Having Positive Outlook Protects Your Memory as You Age, Study Shows

Published: October 21, 2025

© 2025. Datelinehealth Africa Inc. All rights reserved.

Permission is given to copy, use and share content for non-commercial purposes without alteration or modification and subject to attribution as to source.