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Cited by 80Acute Ischemic Stroke ManagementAging and Gerontology ResearchDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Purpose in Life and Cerebral Infarcts in Community-Dwelling Older People

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Yu, Lei, Boyle, Patricia A., Wilson, Robert S., Levine, Steven R., Schneider, Julie A., Bennett, David A.·2015·Stroke
DOI 10.1161/strokeaha.114.008010PMC PMC4461202
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Abstract

Background and Purpose—: Purpose in life, the sense that life has meaning and direction, is associated with reduced risks of adverse health outcomes. However, it remains unknown whether purpose in life protects against the risk of cerebral infarcts among community-dwelling older people. We tested the hypothesis that greater purpose in life is associated with lower risk of cerebral infarcts. Methods—: Participants came from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Each participant completed a standard measure of purpose in life. Uniform neuropathologic examination identified macroscopic infarcts and microinfarcts, blinded to clinical information. Association of purpose in life with cerebral infarcts was examined in ordinal logistic regression models using a semiquantitative outcome. Results—: Four hundred fifty-three participants were included in the analyses. The mean score on the measure of purpose was 3.5 (SD, 0.5; range, 2.1–5.0). Macroscopic infarcts were found in 154 (34.0%) people, and microinfarcts were found in 128 (28.3%) people. Greater purpose in life was associated with a lower odds of having more macroscopic infarcts (odds ratio, 0.535; 95% confidence interval, 0.346–0.826; P =0.005), but we did not find association with microinfarcts (odds ratio, 0.780; 95% confidence interval, 0.495–1.229; P =0.283). These results persisted after adjusting for vascular risk factors of body mass index, history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, and blood pressure, as well as measures of negative affect, physical activity, and clinical stroke. The association with macroscopic infarcts was driven by lacunar infarcts, and was independent of cerebral atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis. Conclusions—: Purpose in life may affect risk for cerebral infarcts, specifically macroscopic lacunar infarcts.

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  • Higher PIL is associated with fewer chronic diseases.

    “In numerous prospective research studies, higher PIL has been associated with better self-rated health,22 fewer chronic diseases (eg, stroke,8,19 myocardial infarctions9), reduced pain,11 less disability,7,10,11 less dementia and Alzheimer's disease,23 and reduced mortality.6,10,11”

    From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [19]

  • The strong correlations between PIL, resilience, and social support have been documented in other studies.

    “The strong correlations between PIL, resilience, and social support have been documented in other studies as well.”

    From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [19]

  • The average PIL score of 3.9 in this study was generally in the same range as other studies with 5 responses.

    “However, the average PIL score of 3.9 in this study was generally in the same range as other studies with 5 responses.”

    From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [19]

  • Numerous prospective studies from 2 to 8 years would strongly suggest that high PIL results in better health and less disability.

    “Numerous prospective studies from 2 to 8 years would strongly suggest that high PIL results in better health and less disability.”

    From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [19]

  • While theoretically improving PIL should be possible, the PIL scores are very stable so expectations would predict relatively small changes with any intervention.

    “To date, while theoretically improving PIL should be possible, the PIL scores are very stable so expectations would predict relatively small changes with any intervention.”

    From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [19]

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Authors
Yu, L., Boyle, P. A., Wilson, R. S., Levine, S. R., Schneider, J. A., & Bennett, D. A.
Affiliations
Rush University Medical Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
Stroke
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2015-04
Volume
46
Issue
4
Pages
1071-1076
ISSN
  • 0039-2499 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4628
DOI
10.1161/strokeaha.114.008010
PMC
PMC4461202
OpenAlex
W2047745856
Cited by
80
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3
FWCI
6.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Stroke (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (R01 AG33678, R01AG017917, R01-AG-24480, R01-AG34374, R01‐AG17917, R01AG24871, R01AG024480, R01AG024871, R01AG033678, R01AG034374)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL96944, R01HL096944)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Acute Ischemic Stroke Management
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
meaning of life, cerebral infarction, microinfarcts, lacunar infarction, community-dwelling older adults, meaning in life, vascular risk factors, cerebral atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, negative affect, physical activity
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cerebral Infarction, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Risk Assessment

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