UNASSIGNED: We examined data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Neuroscience Project. Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging data (n=138; mean age 65.2 years, age range 48-95; 80 females; 37 black, indigenous, and people of color) were used to estimate microstructural indices of brain health such as axonal density, and axonal orientation. The seven-item purpose in life scale was used. Permutation analysis of linear models was used to examine associations between purpose in life scores and the diffusion metrics in white matter and in the bilateral hippocampus, adjusting for age, sex, education, and race.
UNASSIGNED: Greater sense of purpose in life was associated with brain microstructural features consistent with better brain health. Positive associations were found in both white matter and the right hippocampus, where multiple convergent associations were detected. The hippocampus is a brain structure involved in learning and memory that is vulnerable to stress but retains the capacity to grow and adapt through old age. Our findings suggest pathways through which an enhanced sense of purpose in life may contribute to better brain health and promote healthy aging. Since purpose in life is known to decline with age, interventions and policy changes that facilitate a greater sense of purpose may extend and improve the brain health of individuals and thus improve public health.
■我们检查了美国中年(MIDUS)神经科学项目的数据。磁共振弥散加权成像数据(n=138;平均年龄65.2岁,年龄范围48-95;80名女性;37名黑人,土著,和有色人种)用于估计大脑健康的微观结构指标,如轴突密度,和轴突取向。使用生命量表中的七项目的。线性模型的排列分析用于检查生活目的评分与白质和双侧海马中的扩散指标之间的关联。调整年龄,性别,教育,和种族。
■更大的生活目标感与大脑微观结构特征有关,这些特征与更好的大脑健康相一致。在白质和右侧海马中都发现了正相关,其中检测到多个收敛关联。海马体是一种参与学习和记忆的大脑结构,容易受到压力的影响,但在老年时期保持生长和适应的能力。我们的研究结果表明,增强生活目标感的途径可能有助于改善大脑健康并促进健康衰老。因为已知生活的目的会随着年龄的增长而下降,促进更大目标感的干预措施和政策变化可能会扩展和改善个人的大脑健康,从而改善公共卫生。