Purpose & Alzheimers

[fidgiegirl]

I read a tidbit today in the lunchroom in a Prevention magazine. Who knows where they got it, but the important thing is it got me thinking. They said that people who feel a sense of purpose in life are less likely to get Alzheimers.

And I started to think of my purpose, and couldn't really nail it. I don't have kids, so it isn't that. My job is something I enjoy, but I don't feel it's a real mission. I love my dog, but there are lots of dogs that need help. Certainly my whole purpose in life doesn't revolve around Corky. He'll be gone looooooong before I am, God willing.

I was surprised that I couldn't identify my purpose. And I realize that I have a lot of philanthropic/service/community-building kinds of INTERESTS, but don't really take action on them. DH is a little more cautious than I am in how he invests his time, and I have let a lot of that rub off on me, to the point where I never act on my ideas anymore. But before, I was going the other way, and stressing out all the time over my commitments!

Hmmm. What do you think about "purpose" in life? Can you articulate your own purpose readily?

[peggy]

You know, I think it's great that you are trying to define your purpose in life, and i think it's a good thing for everyone to do periodically, but, articles like that really get my goat. Alzheimer's is a disease, and not just some 'funk' that you fall into. It is a real disease, one that affects a whole lot of people, and not just slackers. My father has it and you never met a more intelligent, curious, and thoughtful person in your life. He knew who he was and what his goals in life were, but was felled by this horrible disease. He is still him, on most days, but much diminished, and just a shadow of his former self, intellectually.
Articles like this put the burden of getting a disease on the victim, or rather the blame. He did not bring this on himself by being 'aimless' or without purpose.
I'm not attacking you, but just wanted to get this off my chest. Too often we see articles like this that tell us if only we do this or not do that we can avoid all these terrible things. Well, lifestyle can help you avoid many things, but there are no guarantees and not everything can be avoided, except maybe by dying early. This is also why I think Dr. Oz is a crock as he will have you swallow literally a handful of pills a day, eat every exotic fruit touted as 'the best' and still it's your fault if you get sick!

[fidgiegirl]

peggy, understood. I am not a real fan of those magazines that dole out health advice in dribs and drabs and tidbits and I very much see what you're saying.

Sorry about your Dad

[puglogic]

Fidgie, I have given up on finding a big, capital-P purpose for my life, because I think it's always evolving for me. I've moved into finding an overarching theme for all my purposes....

One exercise someone gave me was to envision friends and family gathered for my funeral. Remembering me fondly, telling great stories. What do I want them to be saying about me? Not necessarily whether I was good or bad or whatever, but more concrete: What did I do with my time that people remember with joy? What did they admire? What is it about me that people were grateful for, glad I was in their lives (if anything!) ?

That, to me, transcends where you volunteer or what job you have.

I coached with this woman in the past, and she's got some definite ideas about purpose: http://www.newagearticles.com/Articl...rposefully/208

[ApatheticNoMore]

I think the studies on Alzheimers and things correlated with it etc. are basically just saying that a healthy lifestyle lessens the risk of Alzheimers. It's also part genetic as there are very definite identified Alzheimers genes that have been known about for awhile that increase the odds of getting Alzheimers. So basically the healthy lifestyle correlations are things like diabetes doubles the risk of Alzheimers (so don't eat so badly you develop diabetes - although even diabetes has genetic suceptibility), metabolic syndrome is linked to Alzheimers, stress increases the risk of Alzheimers (by known mechanisms it seems - excess cortisol), etc.. And having a purpose could be seen as one of those "healthy lifestyle" factors (possibly by reducing stress?) that could maybe be generally categorized as health promoting.

And I realize that I have a lot of philanthropic/service/community-building kinds of INTERESTS, but don't really take action on them. DH is a little more cautious than I am in how he invests his time, and I have let a lot of that rub off on me, to the point where I never act on my ideas anymore. But before, I was going the other way, and stressing out all the time over my commitments!

Well if you are stressing out about purpose you clearly aren't doing your brain any good. In fact you are probably causing it Alzheimers right here as we speak. So long, was nice knowing you before you developed dementia. Just kidding, but the stress really isn't good for the brain or anything else. However if you *want* to do community-building and volunteering things that is what you should find time to do. I enjoy it.

One problem I have with the purpose thing is it gets channeled into jobs in this society. If your job provides purpose that's great, but clearly the current economy is not structured so everyone can have a purposeful job (the biggest growing sector is the service sector - everyone is going to find their purpose in life working retail?). And then people blame themselves for the lie that was told to them about the economy being filled with purposeful jobs, in effect they blame themselves for the nature of the economy. An economy that is better suited to human beings ... hey I'm there, but now things just are what they are, and if you like your job that's a good thing, and if you have a better idea go for it.

Some find purpose outside of jobs though. Me personally, I don't know that I really believe in any grand purpose. When you talked about how sad you were your program got cancelled, I thought, hmm from my perspective that doesn't really make the whole thing a waste. I mean ok it sucks, it's a legitimate reason to be upset, maybe I'd feel just as bad in your shoes. But I guess I see purpose as just kinda of to throw sparks out in the world, and you won't know if or when they will take off. Maybe in the future you get the chance to reimplement your program, maybe someone else in another district gets the idea to start something similar because of your example, maybe your students grow up and one of them becomes a teacher implements a similar program when they are an adult because of you. Maybe nothing comes of it and it was mostly a waste except for improving a few kids education. I mean ok I'm not a teacher and I clearly don't know what I'm talking about I guess, but I guess I just think the fact that something good was brought into existence is a victory. But maybe not the grand purpose of life. I dont' know.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I realize I sound very "It's a Wonderful Life". Don't be upset about things, just go watch old Capra movies, yea that's the ticket . What cartoon was it that did a reverse it's a wonderful life that ended up everyone being better if they had never lived? Haha, probably some truth to that also, as people also do harm, but that's definitely not the purpose!

[iris lily]

This will sound smart alecky but I've always known the purpose of my life and that is to enjoy it. That means that I have to identify the things that interest and entertain me and to pursue them. For instance we've been talking about dog and rescue: the purpose of my life isn't to rescue dogs. The purpose is to bring enjoyment to my life and these big fat funny, silly, sweet, bulldogs do that. If I didn't enjoy rescue I would not do it.

And that didn't save my mother from getting Alzheimer's since she was very active in arts and community and had plenty of interests.

[lizii]

My ex-husband had Alzheimers, and so did his mother. My younger brother also has it, with no genetics involved at all.

They both developed this cruel disease after they had retired and probably lost any sense of purpose in life.

My brother is lucky to have a good, solid marriage plus two granddaughters he loves. He will be well taken care of by his family, unlike my ex, who died alone in the hospital from leukemia he'd just been diagnosed with 3 days before.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I coached with this woman in the past, and she's got some definite ideas about purpose: http://www.newagearticles.com/Articl...rposefully/208

Interesting article, ooh boy was her previous therapist crazy though:

Fortunately I found a couples therapist who really loved his wife and wanted others to love their partners just as much. I told him that I was afraid that if I committed to the relationship, I’d miss out on something. He looked me in the eyes, grinned, and said the words that changed my life. “You’re missing out right now,” he said. “You’re with this guy over here, only you’re not experiencing everything this relationship has to give you. You haven’t sat down at the table to have a meal. You’ve just looked at the menu. No wonder you’re still hungry.

luckily her marriage worked out I guess, because that kind of concrete advice about that kind of decision that can only really be made by the person themselves, from Authority Figure (as opposed to say from random internet person giving advice), could backfire more ways than Russian roulette.

[Rosemary]

I think the reason that this correlation exists is that if you have a specific purpose, you are probably more likely to continue focusing and learning toward that, and these activities exercise the brain in various ways... much like learning a new language or musical instrument, or doing word or math puzzles, or learning to dance, or many other things -- activities such as these are also correlated with reduced Alzheimer's risk.