Study finds that Cats and Dogs may Prevent Memory Loss in Owners

According to a preliminary study, owning a pet, such as a dog or cat, for five years or more may be connected to slower cognitive deterioration.

Author Tiffany Braley of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor reports, “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.”

The research examined cognitive data from 1,369 seniors with an average age of 65 and normal cognitive abilities at the beginning.

A total of 53% of people had pets, with 32% being long-term pet owners (5 or more years). People of all different races participated and were studied.

The Health and Retirement Study, a significant study of Medicare beneficiaries, was used by the researchers. Various cognitive tests were administered to participants in the study. These tests were used to create a composite cognitive score for each subject, which ranged from 0 to 27. Common arithmetic, numerical counting, and word recall exams were included in the composite score.

The researchers next evaluated the relationships between years of pet ownership and cognitive function using the subjects' composite cognitive scores.

Over the course of six years, pet owners' cognitive scores deteriorated at a slower rate. This distinction was most noticeable among long-term pet owners. When other factors known to affect cognitive function were taken into account, the study found that long-term pet owners had a cognitive composite score that was 1.2 points higher, on average, at six years than non-pet owners.

The cognitive benefits of having a pet for a longer period of time were also shown to be stronger among Black adults, college-educated individuals, and men, according to the study. More research is needed, according to Braley, to better understand the possible causes of these connections.

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

The findings will be presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, which will be held in Seattle in April.