Pet ownership may protect the brain, research finds

Owning a dog, especially for five years or longer, may be linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults, a new study reveals.

Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center and University of Florida looked at data from 1,369 older adults with an average age of 65, who had normal cognitive skills, which include thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, and learning.

Over six years, cognitive scores decreased at a slower rate in pet owners. The difference was strongest among long-term pet owners, the researcher discovered.

Study author Tiffany Braley, of the University of Michigan Medical Center, said: “Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress. Our results suggest pet ownership may also be protective against cognitive decline.”

Braley added: “As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the potential stress-buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a plausible reason for our findings. 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.”