Purpose in Life and Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Replicable Evidence from Two National Samples

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome is characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait speed in the absence of dementia. Consistent evidence indicates that it predicts dementia and premature mortality. Less is known about its antecedents, particularly the role of psychological function. Purpose in life is an aspect of well‐being that reflects a goal‐oriented and ‐driven life that has been implicated in cognitive aging. We aimed to examine the cross‐sectional association between purpose in life and MCR and to test the hypothesis that purpose is associated with a lower risk of new cases of MCR over an up to 12‐year follow‐up. DESIGN Cross‐sectional and longitudinal multi‐cohort design. SETTING Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). PARTICIPANTS A total of 6,785 individuals from the HRS and 5,665 from the NHATS. MEASUREMENTS Participants reported on their purpose in life and cognitive complaints and completed a walking speed assessment. Cognitive complaints and walking speed were assessed again up to 12 years later in HRS and up to 7 years later in NHATS. RESULTS Higher purpose in life was associated with a 33% lower risk of MCR concurrently (meta‐analytic odds ratio = .75; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .62–.90; P = .002) and an about 26% lower risk of incident MCR longitudinally (meta‐analytic hazard ratio = .77; 95% CI = .70–.84; P < .001). These associations were significant in each sample, were independent of sociodemographic covariates, and persisted after controlling for personality and health‐related factors (depressive symptoms, physical activity, disease burden). CONCLUSION Purpose in life is associated with a lower risk of incident MCR, an association that was replicated in two independent samples. Purpose is a malleable aspect of psychological function that is a promising target of intervention for healthier cognitive aging.

What Quality-of-Life Dimensions Are Most Important to Older Adults from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds Receiving Aged Care Services? An Exploratory Study

“…Faith was identified as important to many of the CALD participants in the current study but was not identified as being significantly important to the predominantly Anglo samples of older adults using aged care services included in the various development stages of the QOL-ACC. Purpose in life can be measured using other existing instruments (e.g., [ 29 ]; however, aged care providers might be better placed to meet these particular needs of older CALD adults through discussion of what is personally meaningful to them. Furthermore, Identity is acknowledged to be a complex concept [ 30 , 31 ], and language, religion and other cultural factors may not align with nationality or country of origin.…”

Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome and Cognitive Frailty

“…In a study of individuals with cognitive complaints with a follow-up of 12 years, a stronger purpose in life (eg, life has meaning and purpose) was associated with a 33% lower risk of MCR syndrome concurrently and 26% lower risk of MCR syndrome over time. 94 Another study of over 500 participants with slow gait and reports of SCC found that the prevalence of depression, social isolation, pain, frailty, and ADL difficulty was significantly higher in those individuals with MCR syndrome. 95 Epidemiological studies, like that of Tangney and colleagues, 96 indicate combining both the Mediterranean diet and the "DASH diet" can lower risk of cognitive decline.…”

Association between positive control in self-perceptions of aging and motoric cognitive risk syndrome among Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

“…For example, higher neuroticism was linked to a higher risk of MCR [ 9 ], and openness was related to a lower risk of MCR [ 10 ]. Purpose in life and tangible social support were associated with lower MCR risks, respectively [ 11 , 12 ]. Except for factors mentioned above, other psychosocial factors such as self-perceptions of aging (SPA) might be involved, for abundant evidence has been reported SPA was linked to components of MCR.…”