Owning a pet helps reduce dementia risks later in life, a new study reveals. Not only do pets provide companionship and promote physical activity, but they also offer mental and emotional stimulation that can help maintain brain health.

The study found that pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in verbal memory, verbal fluency, and composite verbal cognition among older adults living alone, but not among those living with others. Pet ownership completely offset the declining rates of verbal memory, verbal fluency, and composite verbal cognition associated with living alone. The findings provide insights for public health policies aimed at slowing cognitive decline in older adults living alone.

Dementia is a disease that affects memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. It worsens over time and mainly affects older people. Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally. GBD 2019 Dementia Forecasting Collaborators estimate that the number of people with dementia worldwide will increase from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million in 2050.

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, incorporating a pet into your life can offer numerous benefits that go beyond companionship. The physical activity, emotional connection, reduced stress, cognitive stimulation, social connections, and sense of purpose that come with owning a pet can help reduce the risks of cognitive decline and enhance brain health.

References

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813138

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia#:~:text=Key%2…

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00249-8

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-009-9488-x

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234

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How Pets May Reduce Dementia Risks Later in Life

20 0
25.01.2024

Owning a pet helps reduce dementia risks later in life, a new study reveals. Not only do pets provide companionship and promote physical activity, but they also offer mental and emotional stimulation that can help maintain brain health.

The study found that pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in verbal memory, verbal fluency, and composite verbal cognition among older adults living alone, but not among those living........

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