Do you find joy and fulfillment in the day-to-day activities of your life? Studies show that discovering your purpose can lead to a longer, healthier life. This week on the blog we explore the intersection of purpose and longevity medicine.
Longevity Medicine is an emerging field that focuses on increasing the length and quality of life by focusing on preventative measures and proactive interventions. This new field has spawned a multi-disciplinary approach in which nutrition, exercise, mental health, genetics, lifestyle factors, robotics and artificial intelligence all come together to help individuals reach optimal health. By understanding certain aspects of our health and lifestyle, we can increase our chances for a long life.
DEFINING PURPOSE
Recently on the blog, we discussed Blue Zones – places in the world where people live much longer and healthier than any other place in the world. It has been discovered that each of these Blue Zones have something in common – they all have a strong sense of purpose. People who find meaning and satisfaction in their daily lives tend to live longer. The sense of purpose provides them with motivation, drive and focus to take care of themselves.
So what is purpose, and how does it relate to longevity medicine? Okinawians , one of the world’s healthiest populations, believe that “ikigai” — a concept which loosely translates to “reason for being”— is their key to living 105 years. In Costa Rica, the residents of Nicoya Peninsula are keenly aware of “plan de vida” — a life plan that drives their behavior and decisions.
Purpose is a sense of meaning in life. It can be derived from activities or experiences that bring joy and fulfillment. Purpose can be found in many places and is unique to each individual. The key is to find something you are passionate about, something that will give your life meaning. It can be anything from spending time with family, volunteering for charity work or taking up a hobby like gardening. Whatever it may be, connecting with a purpose can help you live a longer and healthier life.
Purpose is a powerful motivator. It can help you stay focused on what matters most in life – health and wellness. When you find something that gives your life meaning, it helps to give you clarity and direction. Knowing why you are doing something will help to keep you motivated and driven to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
STUDIES
Dr. Robert Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging, found that purpose is essential for a longer life. His research on longevity medicine revealed that people who find meaning in their lives tend to live 6-10 years more than those who do not. The Journal of American Medical Association in a cohort study of 6985 adults showed that life purpose was significantly associated with all-cause mortality.
The intersection between purpose and longevity medicine is clear. By finding a sense of purpose in our lives, we can foster better health habits that lead to a longer life. Keeping an eye on our diet and physical activity will help keep us healthy. Connecting with family, friends, and your community can also help give you a sense of purpose which can lead to improved mental health.
At the end of the day, longevity medicine is about finding ways to increase quality of life. And it turns out that purpose can be a powerful tool in this pursuit. When we find something that brings us joy and fulfillment, it helps to give us motivation and drive to maintain healthy habits. So, take some time today to find your purpose and start living a longer and healthier life.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN OPTIMIZATION
At the Institute for Human Optimization, we are a Maryland based Functional Medicine & Longevity Medicine practice that partners with you to become your health intelligence partner with the goal of optimizing your health. We accomplish this with our signature precision medicine approach. Our providers use a combination of therapies that are tailored to your specific needs with a health optimization goal. We believe that our Medical Team should make use of the latest scientific research to offer our patients personalized medicine, based on real data. We call this precision health and it is the future of healthcare.
Our focus is not only looking at the root cause, but also to measure, quantify and optimize the patient’s personal health. We take a preventative approach, personalized, and precise approach in helping our patients control their risk factors early on in order to avoid chronic illness down the road. Our team of medical providers use a comprehensive approach with every patient that comes into our office, looking at all aspects of health including lifestyle, environment and genetics. There are no generic one size fit all protocols. No two patients receive the same treatment plan since we work with each individual to create a personalized plan. We empower our patients with the right tools and information, so they can take control of their own health. This is the future of longevity!
