Medical comment provided by Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor.
You might already know that having a sense of purpose is linked to greater longevity and a longer cognitive healthspan.
Those who are passionate and knowledgeable about their interests may face a lower dementia risk, too.
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When Héctor Garcia, who co-wrote Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, went to the “village of longevity,” Ogimi Village, he noticed that the “healthy and active seniors” there often said they had an “ikigai”.
The term refers to something that brings value, meaning, and purpose to life. Here, we asked GP Dr Suzanne Wylie to share her thoughts on the topic.
What is “ikigai”?
It’s a compound of two Japanese words, “life” (iki) and “value, benefit” (-gai).
The Japanese government’s site describes it as “that which brings value and joy to life: from people, such as one’s children or friends, to activities including work and hobbies.”
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Japanese psychologist Katsuya Inoue said it has two elements. These are “sources or objects that bring value or meaning to life,” and “a feeling that one’s life has value or meaning because of the existence of its source or object”.
It is a “broad term”, which can include everything from gardening to art to butterflies.
Ikigai is a practice as much as it is a passion. “Everyone knows what the source of their zest for life is, and is busily engaged in it every day,” Garcia wrote.
What are the benefits of “ikigai”?
Dr Wylie told us she approaches the concept of Ikigai with “a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism.
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“There is certainly a growing body of observational evidence suggesting that having a sense of purpose in life is associated with better health outcomes, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, lower rates of depression, and even increased longevity,” she added.
So, though we can’t be as sure it’ll benefit us as much as, e.g., controlling blood pressure or quitting smoking, “it is plausible that [ikigai] contributes [to longevity] indirectly by encouraging engagement in meaningful activities, fostering social connections, and reducing stress, all factors known to influence physical and cognitive health as people age”.
For instance, Dr Wylie shared, people who garden, engage in creative hobbies, or even spend time with loved ones, “tend to have better emotional regulation, lower inflammatory markers, and are more likely to maintain an active lifestyle.
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“These factors can contribute to what we would call healthy ageing, meaning a later onset of frailty, preserved cognitive function, and a greater quality of life, even if the absolute extension of lifespan is modest.”
How can I find an “ikigai”?
Dr Wylie told us there’s no set prescription.
Instead, it’s “more about encouraging people to reflect on what genuinely matters to them and finding ways to integrate that into daily life.
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“This might mean advising someone to take up a hobby they have always enjoyed, join social or community groups, or even structure their day around small, purposeful tasks that bring them satisfaction”.
But simply learning what you like isn’t enough, the GP added.
“The key is consistency and meaningful engagement rather than intensity; it is the regular, ongoing sense of purpose that appears to be protective,” she explained.
“For older adults, in particular, maintaining social connections and pursuing interests can mitigate loneliness and cognitive decline, which in itself may confer measurable health benefits.”
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