The human brain slows down its functions as we get older. Memory, language and attention all fall prey to the ravages of age. Regrettably scientists have not found a way to stop the mind’s decline. There are ways to slow the process however, and one of these is to own a dog or cat.
In a study conducted in 2022, researchers tested the cognitive abilities of 1,369 senior citizens over 6 years. Half the study participants were pet owners. Researchers found the pet parents had a slower decline in cognitive abilities than those who were not pet owners. In addition, they found that the longer-term pet owners performed better when tested.
In other studies, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) has been tracking the aging process in seniors for over 25 years. It has tracked data from over 7,945 participants including pet ownership.
According to their study published in 2023, having a pet did slow cognitive decline. The study indicated that owning a dog or cat only really benefited those seniors who lived alone. This subset of seniors are most at risk though. Cognitive decline is faster and dementia risk is higher in those who live alone. Pet ownership seems to mitigate this effect.
There are so many other benefits to pet ownership for the over 50 crowd. Having a dog increases physical activity with the need to exercise your pooch. Caring for a pet is reason enough to get out of bed in the morning. Add a slower mental decline to the picture and it’s a win-win situation.
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