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Dementia is a heartbreaking disease that affects not only 7 million people (and that number is growing), but their loved ones, too. With dementia symptoms including speech problems, memory loss, mood changes, difficulty completing tasks and more, it’s no wonder that many of us try to avoid the disease if at all possible and help our friends and family do the same.
When it comes to factors that can lower dementia risk, experts point to many examples, such as keeping your brain active, exercising, spending time with others and even doing chores. And according to a 2025 study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, there’s a new factor to add: having a sense of purpose.
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Following over 13,000 adults ages 45 and older for up to 15 years, the study found that people who reported a higher sense of purpose in life were roughly 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, including dementia.
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