Having a sense of purpose may protect against dementia
New study shows psychological well-being may play a vital role in healthy aging
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Aliza Wingo, senior author of the study, is a professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
view moreCredit: UC Davis Health.
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — 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.
Now, new research from UC Davis shows that having a sense of purpose in life may have another benefit as people age: reducing the risk of dementia.
The new study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, followed over 13,000 adults aged 45 and older for up to 15 years.
Researchers found that people who reported a higher sense of purpose in life were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment — including mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
The protective effect of having a purpose was seen across racial and ethnic groups. It also remained significant even after accounting for education, depression and the APOE4 gene, which is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Purpose in life helps the brain stay resilient
“Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age,” said Aliza Wingo, senior author and professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Even for people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, sense of purpose was linked to a later onset and lower likelihood of developing dementia.”
Participants were not specifically asked about the activities that gave their life purpose. Previous studies on aging, though, have found a wide rang of activities give older adults a sense of life purpose, sometimes referred to as “ikigai.” These include:
- Relationships: Caring for family, spending time with grandchildren or supporting a spouse or friend.
- Work or volunteering: Continuing professional work, mentoring or contributing to community causes.
- Spirituality or faith: Religious beliefs, spiritual practices or involvement in faith-based communities.
- Personal goals: Pursuing hobbies, learning new skills or setting and achieving personal milestones.
- Helping others: Acts of kindness, philanthropy, caregiving or advocacy work.
Purpose delays onset of cognitive decline
Researchers also found that people with higher purpose tended to experience cognitive decline later than those with lower purpose. On average, the delay in onset was very modest — about 1.4 months over an eight-year period, after considering the effects of age, education, depressive symptoms, and genetic risk. However, it is meaningful when compared to current treatments.
“While medications like lecanemab and donanemab can modestly delay symptoms of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease, they come with risks and costs,” said Nicholas C. Howard, first author and public health researcher at UC Davis. “Purpose in life is free, safe and accessible. It’s something people can build through relationships, goals and meaningful activities.”
Methods and limitations of study
Participants in the study were part of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey funded by the National Institute on Aging. All had normal cognitive health at the beginning of the study.
Researchers used a seven-item survey from the Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-being. Participants had six possible responses (from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”) for statements such as: “I am an active person in carrying out the plans I set for myself” and “I have a sense of direction and purpose in my life.” Their answers were scored and averaged to obtain a well-being number between 1 and 6, with higher values indicating a strong sense of purpose in life.
Their cognitive health was tracked using a telephone-based test every two years.
The researchers noted the study has many strengths, including the size of the population studied. However, a key limitation is that although there was an association, the study did not prove higher levels of purpose caused the lowered rates of dementia.
Findings support role of psychological well-being
Still, the findings support the idea that psychological well-being plays a key role in healthy aging, said Thomas Wingo, a co-author of the study and a professor and neurologist at UC Davis Health. Wingo hopes future studies will explore whether purpose-building interventions can help prevent dementia.
“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,” he said. “It’s never too early — or too late — to start thinking about what gives your life meaning.”
Resources
Journal
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volunteers stay active at the UC Davis Arboretum. A new study shows people who reported a higher sense of purpose in life were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment. The research shows that psychological well-being may play a vital role in healthy aging.
Credit
UC Davis Health.
Method of Research
Data/statistical analysis
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Life Purpose Lowers Risk for Cognitive Impairment in a United States Population-Based Cohort
Article Publication Date
28-Aug-2025
Participating in in-person events fosters social connections
Attending multiple events, going with friends strengthens bonds
Attending live events can combat loneliness and build social connections, particularly if those events are in person, according to new research from the University of Georgia and Brigham Young University.
Led by Richard Slatcher and Julianne Holt-Lunstad, the research team analyzed data from 1,551 participants who reported their experiences before and after attending various events, from concerts to fitness classes.
“This research underscores a fairly simple but, I think, powerful takeaway: If you want to feel more socially connected, go to events that are in person, that encourage participation, and that you can attend with others, especially if they’re recurring,” said Slatcher, Gail M. Williamson Distinguished Professor in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ department of psychology. “The average person looking to feel less isolated might benefit from something as accessible as a weekly fitness class or local concert with friends.”
“This work also has implications for those who plan events, whether it be a community event, corporate event, fitness class or a dinner party,” Holt-Lunstad added. “To encourage active participation and engagement with others at the event, minimize elements that are passive and build elements that allow time for conversation, hands-on activities or give each participant a responsibility.”
Active participation was key to maximizing feelings of connectedness, the study found.
“Humans are fundamentally social beings,” Holt-Lunstad said. “We have robust scientific evidence documenting the consequences that occur when people lack social connection (e.g., social isolation, loneliness) that go beyond well-being and mental health, to influence both individual and community health, safety and prosperity.”
Regular in-person events needed to maintain feelings of connection
Attending events in person rather than virtually, going with others rather than alone and participating in recurring events rather than one-time experiences all enhanced these feelings of social connection.
“These findings are especially relevant post-COVID as people are still navigating how to rebuild community and combat the isolation many experienced during the pandemic,” Slatcher said. The U.S. surgeon general has declared loneliness an epidemic and issued an advisory led by Holt-Lunstad. This study offers timely, practical steps toward addressing these concerns and fostering connection.
However, the study also found that the boost in connection didn’t last long. Feelings of social connection typically weren’t sustained 24 hours after events ended. This suggests the need for regular participation in such activities to maintain benefits.
“We believe these findings can empower individuals and communities,” Slatcher said. “Small, consistent choices — like going to a local yoga class or volunteering regularly — can create genuine opportunities to feel seen and connected.”
“In a world that is increasingly isolated, gathering people via live events might be one way to start reversing these trends,” Holt-Lunstad said.
The study was published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
The researchers also developed a toolkit to accompany their findings, Events 4 Connection, available here.
Journal
Social Psychological and Personality Science
Article Title
Actively Participating in Live Events as an Avenue for Social Connection
Article Publication Date
25-Aug-2025
New research illustrates how live events foster social connection
A new study from the University of Georgia and Brigham Young University demonstrates how attending live events can help combat loneliness and build social connections. The research, forthcoming in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, pinpoints specific characteristics of events that most effectively foster feelings of connectedness.
Led by Drs. Richard Slatcher (UGA) and Julianne Holt-Lunstad (BYU), the research team analyzed data from 1,551 participants who reported their experiences before and after attending various events, from concerts to fitness classes.
"This research underscores a fairly simple but, I think, powerful takeaway: if you want to feel more socially connected, go to events that are in-person, that encourage participation, and that you can attend with others, especially if they're recurring," explains Dr. Slatcher. "The average person looking to feel less isolated might benefit from something as accessible as a weekly fitness class or local concert with friends."
“This work also has implications for those who plan events, whether it be a community event, corporate event, fitness class, or a dinner party,” says Dr. Holt-Lunstad. “To encourage active participation and engagement with others at the event, minimize elements that are passive and build elements that allow time for conversation, hands-on activities, or give each participant a responsibility.”
Researchers identified key event characteristics that reliably predicted stronger feelings of social connection. The most significant findings indicated that active participation was particularly important.
"Our most striking finding was that active participation—where people are encouraged to interact rather than passively observe—was the strongest predictor of feeling socially connected during an event," Dr. Slatcher notes. "This kind of engagement, even more than simply being in a crowd, appeared to foster a meaningful sense of connection."
“Humans are fundamentally social beings,” says Dr. Holt-Lunstad. “We have robust scientific evidence documenting the consequences that occur when people lack social connection (e.g., social isolation, loneliness) that go beyond well-being and mental health, to influence both individual and community health, safety, and prosperity.”
Additional factors that enhanced feelings of connection included attending events in person rather than virtually, going with others rather than alone, and participating in recurring events rather than one-time experiences.
The research is especially timely in the post-pandemic era, as many people continue to struggle with isolation and loneliness.
"These findings are especially relevant post-COVID, as people are still navigating how to rebuild community and combat the isolation many experienced during the pandemic," says Dr. Slatcher. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness an epidemic, and issued an advisory led by Dr. Holt-Lunstad. This study offers timely, practical steps toward addressing these concerns and fostering connection.
However, the study also found that the boost in connection wasn't long-lasting—feelings of social connection typically weren't sustained 24 hours after events ended. This suggests the need for regular participation in such activities to maintain benefits.
"We believe these findings can empower individuals and communities," Dr. Slatcher adds. "Small, consistent choices—like going to a local yoga class or volunteering regularly—can create genuine opportunities to feel seen and connected.” Dr Holt-Lunstad also notes that “This research also has practical value for those looking to create programs and events that truly build community. “In a world that is increasingly isolated, gathering people via live events might be one way to start reversing these trends."
Daisi Brand, the first author of the paper and a doctoral student at UGA, explained that future studies should also focus on how to maintain this level of connection beyond a specific event.
“It's valuable to note that although these event characteristics (in-person, active participation, attending with others, attending regularly) uniquely predicted in-the-moment feelings of connection, research should continue to explore how people can sustain these positive feelings beyond the event to create a lasting sense of connectedness,” explains Brand.
The researchers emphasize that not all events create the same sense of connection. The quality and context of participation matter significantly.
Looking ahead, the team plans to explore how to make these momentary feelings of connection more enduring. "Our field of social psychology is getting a better and better sense of what sparks human connection," Dr. Slatcher observes. "A big question that remains is how to make it last."
For those who would like to learn more, researchers have developed a toolkit to accompany their findings, Events 4 Connection, available here.
Journal
Social Psychological and Personality Science
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Actively Participating in Live Events as an Avenue for Social Connection
Article Publication Date
25-Aug-2025
