(Becky Upham/ Everyday Health) — A pet could help preserve memory and slow the rate of cognitive decline in older adults who live alone, according to a new study published December 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Of interest to researchers was the fact that the association between pet companionship and slower rates of cognitive change was seen only in older adults who lived by themselves, but not in their same-age counterparts with pets who cohabitated with other people.
These new findings add to a growing body of research that suggests that cognitive decline, particularly decline in verbal memory, could be lessened by pet ownership, says Tiffany Braley, MD, an associate professor of neurology and a researcher at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor who was not involved in this study.
The fact that the cognitive benefits of keeping a pet were seen only in people living alone raises important questions regarding the potential pathways by which pet ownership could benefit cognitive health in older adults, adds Dr. Braley.
Research shows that among U.S. adults age 65 and older, 1 in 10 has dementia, and 22 percent have mild cognitive impairment. Experts estimate that the number of adults living with some form of dementia in the United States will double by 2050, rising from 5.2 million people today to 10.5 million. (…)