Aging Fearlessly: The Connection Between Purpose and Longevity

The Connection Between Purpose and Longevity

A few days ago, I turned on NPR just in time to hear the end of a program about the relation of  purpose and longevity. Intrigued, I researched the concept and found some interesting articles. The most informative ones were in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a Harvard University blog and The Washington Post.  

While some of the scientific and statistical analysis in the JAMA article was way over my head, I did get a feeling for the basics. Recent studies show that people 50 and older who have a strong sense of purpose live longer. This is particularly true concerning death from heart, circulatory, and blood conditions but a strong purpose can also lower your risk of dying prematurely from any condition. While it is not yet known what biological factors are responsible for this increased longevity, it may be related to lower stress levels that reduce body inflammation.

The Washington Post article noted that people who have a strong purpose in life react better to stressful situations because they "calm down more quickly." Other researchers note that people with a strong sense of purpose have fewer sleep problems, less depression, and a lower rate of diabetes. They are also more likely to exercise and follow preventive healthcare measures.

I was particularly intrigued to learn the linkage between purpose and longevity in Japan. There it is called ikigai (iki means life, gai means value or worth). A study of over 43,000 Japanese determined that those who did not have ikigai had a 60 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. In fact, ikigai is considered such a vital preventive behavior that it is included as part of Japan's health promotion strategy

This all sounds like good news but, I wondered, how do you define "strong purpose?"

How do you know if your purpose is strong enough to reap the benefits? Do you need to have a strong purpose throughout your life or just in your golden years? I didn't find answers to all these questions, but a few sources mentioned that a strong purpose might include interacting with grandchildren, volunteering, learning new skills, and living a life motivated by your values and goals. My favorite example was an elderly Japanese woman who said her ikigai is "keeping my street clean and pretty."

Mulling this over, I decided that my strong purpose is what gets me up and excited each day about doing more of something. I don't think it has to be all-consuming. I take most afternoons "off" to read, paint, or go for walks. Looking back over my life, I can see that my strong purpose shifted over the years. At first it was education. I loved going to school, doing homework, and even taking tests. But I did have limits. I hated Latin in junior high, a tedious geography course in college, and a legal research class in law school where we were required to memorize the color of various reference books. And I still remember exactly where I was when, in sixth grade, my mother told me it wasn't possible to learn everything about every subject in the world. I was crushed! But I remained excited about learning and still am today.

My second era of strong purpose was my early professional life. This was an exciting time and I happily worked weekends and evenings to keep on top of what was expected of me. Since most of my work focused on advocacy and trying to make a difference in people's lives, I was eager to do my best.

Then for 46 years, my strong purpose shifted to loving, supporting, and doing whatever I could for and with my darling husband, Don. For the first time in my life, I felt loved and supported in return and this just reinforced my joy at making him the center of my life. I did continue my professional work, but we focused on shared purposes, from raising his son to volunteering for organizations that were important to us. Then, in his final year of life, I became his full-time caregiver – definitely a strong purpose but such a sad one too. I doubt such "negative" purpose promotes longevity.

After Don's death, I found myself adrift, lacking any direction. I knew I needed something meaningful to fill my lonely days. I now find a strong sense of purpose through my AARP Maine volunteer activities, promoting palliative care (more on this in a future blog post), and writing a book about the Deer Isle home that Don and I designed.

One more note: As I researched this issue, I looked through Amazon's list of books on longevity. I felt like I'd entered a huckster world of false promises and imagined fountains of youth. I even found one titled "The Longevity Cookbook." I didn't order it.

I hope this post makes you consider your strong purpose. If you'd like to read more on this topic, just click on one of the publications listed in the first paragraph.

In my next blog I'll discuss "volunteering: possibilities and pitfalls." Meanwhile, if you have any questions or comments, please be in touch. Contact me at me@aarp.org and put "blog" in the subject line so your comments will reach me. See you again in two weeks!

P.S. Just finished The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman, a wonderful book. I now think of "birdbrain" as a very positive compliment.

© 2021 Suzanne Carmichael