There's an old chestnut that goes "The meaning of life is to give life meaning." Now researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have shown that this aphorism may be the key to staving off Alzheimer's. The research, published online in the May Issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, was funded by the National Institutes on Aging.
In a press release sent out by the university, lead author Patricia A. Boyle, PhD was quoted as saying, "Our study showed that people who reported greater purpose in life exhibited better cognition than those with less purpose in life even as plaques and tangles accumulated in their brains. These findings suggest that purpose in life protects against the harmful effects of plaques and tangles on memory and other thinking abilities. This is encouraging and suggests that engaging in meaningful and purposeful activities promotes cognitive health in old age.”
Here at ThirdAge, we are inspired and encouraged by thiat finding. Let's all make this chapter of our lives one that is replete with passion and purpose. Whether you decide to do volunteer work that is meaningful to you or you choose to pursue an encore career that fulfills a lifelong dream, you may well be taking out insurance against cognitive decline. And at the very least, you'll be living a life worth living!
