Longtime pet owners generally stay mentally sharp as they age. Here's how it works—and how non-pet people could try to mimic the benefits.
and boosts mood. Taken together, the psychological and physical health benefits of human-animal bonds are known as the"pet effect."
Now, a soon-to-be-published study of more than 1,300 older adults reports that long-term pet ownership is linked to slower . This University of Michigan research will be presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology's 74th Annual Meeting in April 2022."Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress," lead author Tiffany Braley of the University of Michigan Medical Center said in a February 2022For this study, a cohort of older adults with an average age of 65 took a series of cognitive tests.
Over six years, the researchers found that, in general, cognitive scores decreased at a much slower rate among pet owners. On average, pet owners' overall cognitive scores were 1.2 points higher than non–pet owners' composite scores. Notably, long-term pet ownership was associated with the slowest rate of cognitive decline.These findings are correlative and do not show causation.
"As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the potential stress-buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a plausible reason for our findings," Braley concluded."A companion animal can also increase physical activity, which could benefit cognitive health. That said, more research is needed to confirm our results and identify underlying mechanisms for this association."Do Pets Have a Positive Effect on Your Brain Health?Reeves, M. J., Rafferty, A. P.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ABC13's Pick Your Pet at BARC, HoustonThis Friday is ABC13's Pick Your Pet Adoption event at BARC Houston. Don't miss the opportunity to find your new best friend.
Read more »
Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Houston Humane Society host pet food distribution driveThe Houston Humane Society and Fort Bend County Judge KP George hosted a pet food...
Read more »
Are People More Attractive When They're with a Pet?Being out with your dog can make you seem more attractive and approachable, but that’s not the only way pets can help facilitate romance. WendyPatrickPhD explains.
Read more »
Hear Soft Cell, Pet Shop Boys Collaborate on New Single 'Purple Zone'Soft Cell have teamed up with Pet Shop Boys for a new song, 'Purple Zone,' along with a vibrant music video for the track.
Read more »
NJ pet store opens doors for employees with developmental disabilitiesPride Paws promotes the abilities of its employees and builds their resumes to excel in the future.
Read more »