If you share a home with a furry friend, you know how much a wagging tail or a warm snuggle can brighten your day. Today – National Love Your Pet Day – offers a chance to return the favor and lavish attention on your cherished companions.

But did you know that pets may also help protect your brain as you get older? Living with pets can be beneficial for people of any age, but it’s especially helpful for older adults.

Pets and Living Alone

It’s no secret that cognitive decline and dementia are more likely as people age. The risk is higher for older adults living alone. However, a study published in JAMA Network Open in 2023 found that an animal roommate may counteract the effects of living without other people in the home.

The study of nearly 8,000 adults aged 50 and older found slower rates of decline in verbal memory and language skills among adults who lived alone but had pets.

Dogs, Exercise and Connection

In the perennial debate of dogs vs. cats, dogs may win when it comes to protecting their owners’ brain health, according to a study published in Preventive Medicine Reports in 2023.

Compared to non-dog owners and cat owners, owning a dog was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia that interferes with daily living, especially when combined with a regular exercise habit and social connection.

So if you have a daily habit of walking your dog and chatting with neighbors along the way, keep it up!

Positive Impact on Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

For older pet owners diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, a study in Finland provides some hope. The study involved more than 220 older adults living at home with mild Alzheimer’s.

Over a five-year period, pet owners had slower disease progression than non-pet owners, as well as significantly better daily activity function.

Love Your Pet

Although more research needs to be done on pets and cognitive decline, we do know a well-behaved pet can lower your stress and blood pressure. Plus, there’s no social burden to impress or talk after a long day.

All good reasons for pet owners to provide a little extra affection on National Love Your Pet Day and every day!

Sources:
American Psychiatric Association
JAMA Open Network
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, National Library of Medicine
Preventive Medicine Reports