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Relationship of Purpose in Life to Dementia in Older Black and White Brazilians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2021

Robert S. Wilson Open the ORCID record for Robert S. Wilson [Opens in a new window] ,
Ana W. Capuano ,
Carolina Sampaio ,
Sue E. Leurgans ,
Lisa L. Barnes ,
Patricia A. Boyle ,
Jose M. Farfel  and
David A. Bennett
Robert S. Wilson*
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Ana W. Capuano
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Instituto de Assistencia Medica ao Servidor Publico do Estado (IAMSPE), Sao Paulo, Brazil
Carolina Sampaio
Affiliation:
Instituto de Assistencia Medica ao Servidor Publico do Estado (IAMSPE), Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sue E. Leurgans
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Lisa L. Barnes
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Patricia A. Boyle
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Jose M. Farfel
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Instituto de Assistencia Medica ao Servidor Publico do Estado (IAMSPE), Sao Paulo, Brazil
David A. Bennett
Affiliation:
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA Instituto de Assistencia Medica ao Servidor Publico do Estado (IAMSPE), Sao Paulo, Brazil
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Robert S. Wilson, PhD, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 West Harrison Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. E-mail: robert_s_wilson@rush.edu
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Abstract

Objectives:

To test the hypothesis that higher level of purpose in life is associated with lower likelihood of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older Brazilians.

Methods:

As part of the Pathology, Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Study (PARDoS), informants of 1,514 older deceased Brazilians underwent a uniform structured interview. The informant interview included demographic data, the Clinical Dementia Rating scale to diagnose dementia and MCI, the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for depression, and a 6-item measure of purpose in life, a component of well-being.

Results:

Purpose scores ranged from 1.5 to 5.0 with higher values indicating higher levels of purpose. On the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, 940 persons (62.1%) had no cognitive impairment, 121 (8.0%) had MCI, and 453 (29.9%) had dementia. In logistic regression models adjusted for age at death, sex, education, and race, higher purpose was associated with lower likelihood of MCI (odds ratio = .58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .43, .79) and dementia (odds ratio = .49, 95% CI: .41, .59). Results were comparable after adjusting for depression (identified in 161 [10.6%]). Neither race nor education modified the association of purpose with cognitive diagnoses.

Conclusions:

Higher purpose in life is associated with lower likelihood of MCI and dementia in older black and white Brazilians.

Keywords

Well-beingMild cognitive impairmentDementiaRaceBrazilDecedents
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 28 , Issue 10 , November 2022 , pp. 997 - 1002
Copyright
Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

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