Do pets have a positive effect on your brain health?
Study shows long-term pet ownership linked to slower decline in cognition
over time
Date:
February 23, 2022
Source:
American Academy of Neurology
Summary:
Owning a pet, like a dog or cat, especially for five years or
longer, may be linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults,
according to a preliminary study.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Owning a pet, like a dog or cat, especially for five years or longer,
may be linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults, according to
a preliminary study released today, February 23, 2022
========================================================================== "Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress," said study author
Tiffany Braley, MD, MS, of the University of Michigan Medical Center in
Ann Arbor and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "Our results suggest pet ownership may also be protective against cognitive decline."
The study looked at cognitive data from 1,369 older adults with an average
age of 65 who had normal cognitive skills at the start of the study. A
total of 53% owned pets, and 32% were long-term pet owners, defined
as those who owned pets for five years or more. Of study participants,
88% were white, 7% were Black, 2% were Hispanic and 3% were of another ethnicity or race.
Researchers used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a large study
of Medicare beneficiaries. In that study, people were given multiple
cognitive tests. Researchers used those cognitive tests to develop a
composite cognitive score for each person, ranging from zero to 27. The composite score included common tests of subtraction, numeric counting
and word recall. Researchers then used participants' composite cognitive
scores and estimated the associations between years of pet ownership
and cognitive function.
Over six years, cognitive scores decreased at a slower rate in pet
owners. This difference was strongest among long-term pet owners. Taking
into account other factors known to affect cognitive function, the
study showed that long-term pet owners, on average, had a cognitive
composite score that was 1.2 points higher at six years compared to
non-pet owners. The researchers also found that the cognitive benefits associated with longer pet ownership were stronger for Black adults, college-educated adults and men. Braley says more research is needed to
further explore the possible reasons for these associations.
"As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the potential stress- buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a plausible reason for
our findings," said Braley. "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." A limitation of the study was that length of pet
ownership was assessed only at one time point, so information regarding
ongoing pet ownership was unavailable.
The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 74th
Annual Meeting being held in person in Seattle, April 2 to 7, 2022 and virtually, April 24 to 26, 2022.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Aging.
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always get wrong about diet and exercise. Claim_yours_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Academy_of_Neurology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223210035.htm
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