Researchers from the University of California- Davis have found that purpose slows down cognitive decline in aging individuals.
From studying individuals in ‘Blue Zones’ around the world i.e. regions where people have been reported to live longer than average, people who reported a sense of purpose in their life were 28% less likely to suffer neurodegeneration and cognitive impairements.
On average the improved effect was minimal, of around 1.4 months over a span of 8 years, after considering physiological, genetic and psychological factors. But even so, this finding is meaningful when compared against present treatment efforts towards neurodegeneration.
MBH/AB