Author: Luís Gustavo Mariotti

In search of meaning: the possible lessons at the end of life

The eminent Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), who survived the Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War, is considered the father of Logotherapy. This is an approach, or so-called “meaning therapy”, based on the idea that human beings can overcome the suffering and disappointments inherent in [...]

Between productivity and meaning: a look at mental health

LUÍS GUSTAVO MARIOTTI ♦ Recently, a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet showed that the global burden of mental disorders has increased significantly over the last three decades. In 2019, research data already indicated that approximately 12% of the world's population suffered from a mental disorder. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the prevalence of [...]

Growing old should not be synonymous with loneliness

Ageing is a topical issue. Reflections on it will always be necessary and represent an invitation to great reflection. Let's start with a brief story: John, 79, was recently widowed. His wife, Edith, 72, died of multiple organ failure after a long stay in hospital. She had many health problems [...]

True purity of heart promotes peace and integral health

The year 2026 has begun and, with it, you may have made a list of priorities for the current period. It's likely that on this list you've prioritized taking care of your physical health, looking after your financial needs, planning and looking for new work opportunities, relationships and even [...]

The ageing artist: what does dementia teach us?

Recently, singer and musician Milton Nascimento (pictured) was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBCD) - a neurodegenerative, progressive and incurable disease, whose main signs and symptoms are: visual hallucinations, parkinsonism (a set of signs manifested by tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement), cognitive fluctuations, behavioral disorders of REM sleep (movement [...]

Human health depends on peace in the world

You, the reader, might wonder, as I do: how do wars affect human health and well-being? Who is most affected? What scientific evidence proves that peace is the way to preserve human dignity and integral health? To begin this reflection, I bring you a quote from Immanuel Kant (2020), eminent [...]

Happiness and its influence on health and longevity

Have you ever stopped to think: what is happiness anyway? What really brings you well-being? 87 years ago, Harvard researchers began one of the most important longitudinal studies ever conducted in the United States. For decades, they followed the trajectory of young people - some students at the university itself and others living in low-income neighborhoods in Boston. [...]

Cancer beyond the body: illness as an emotional and spiritual journey

Recently, the beloved singer Preta Gil passed away as a result of intestinal cancer, at an advanced stage and with metastases. Preta was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January 2023. She herself reported, in interviews, that she had been experiencing changes in the functioning of her intestines and bleeding in her stools, until, due to greater discomfort, she sought [...]

Moral illness: a topic to be studied

At Mednesp 2025, held last month, leading researchers debated a variety of subjects. Many of them addressed topics related to spiritual aspects and values such as forgiveness, gratitude, solidarity, compassion, optimism and hope. This set of values or internal moral state - emotions such as anger, gratitude, forgiveness and purpose - can be measured with questionnaires, psychological scales and correlated [...]

The title that matters most

For soccer fans, it was thrilling to witness French team Paris Saint-Germain beat Italian team Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final on May 31. And one character deserves special mention: Spanish coach Luis Enrique. His life story is remarkable. In 2019, [...]

Dealing with loss: dying and the whys

Recently, a palliative care team looked after an 18-year-old man with a serious onco-hematological disease. The young man had undergone eight lines of cancer treatment and began to show disease progression, which progressively compromised some of his organs and his functional capacity. He spent the last year of his [...]

When a nightingale prepares to fly: what should Spiritists know about treatment and care at the end of life?

Recently, a woman approached me to talk about a family conference (a meeting between the healthcare team and the patient's relatives) that would take place the day after our telephone conversation. The team's idea would be to talk to the relatives about advance care planning related to their [...]

Christmas champagne and Alzheimer's

We are living through an epidemic of so-called dementia syndromes, in which Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main protagonist. In Brazil, there are an estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million people living with dementia, with Alzheimer's accounting for approximately 50-60% of cases. The prevalence of AD in people over 65 varies [...]