This is the 75th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
Purpose is defined as a sense of resolve or determination.
My mother’s frequent and treatment-resistant episodes of depression eroded hers. Apathetic, she lost all her verve for life. “I am inert,” she told me once when I texted to ask how she was.
It was the perfect description; depression robbed her of motivation, drive and a sense of purpose.
I would often wonder afterwards if that contributed to her dementia later.
Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist Dr Ritu Verma says research shows that people with a strong sense of purpose tend to have better executive functioning – sharper mental skills for planning and focus – and improved performance on processing speed and memory tests.
“Having purpose helps our brains age better,” she says.
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