[Animals] Dogs and cats protect their guardians from memory loss

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A study revealed that people with pets maintain their cognitive abilities longer. What are the reasons

The study said that having a companion animal may also protect against cognitive decline (Getty)
Enjoying life with a pet brings multiple health benefits. Science had already linked it to stress and lower blood pressure. And now, recent research has found that animals could also protect us from memory loss in the future.

Animal guardians, including dogs, cats and rabbits, were found to retain more cognitive abilities when followed for six years. For the study, researchers looked at more than 1,300 people with an average age of 65.

The University of Michigan Medical Center paper, which has not yet been published, was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

 

The research involved 1,369 older adults with a mean age of 65 years who had normal cognitive abilities at the beginning of the study. 53% had pets, and 32% were long-term guardians, defined as those who had pets for five years or more. Of the study participants, 88% were white, 7% black, 2% Hispanic, and 3% of other ethnic origin.

 

People with dogs benefit from regular walks, as exercise is linked to a healthier brain (Europa Press)
For the research, participants were asked to recall a list of ten words, both immediately and after five minutes. They had to count backwards from 20 and backwards from 100 by subtracting seven from each number.

The study found that, after six years, animal drop guardians saw a lower long-term average score on these tests than those who did not live with animals.

There is mounting evidence that stress can cause cognitive decline, and experts believe that pet dogs, cats, and rabbits can help keep us mentally alert by reducing stress.

 

Additionally, dog owners benefit from regular walks, as exercise is linked to a healthier brain.

In the same vein, the study authors noted that people with better thinking skills may be more likely to have pets, as they can deal with multiple caregiving tasks.

Dr Tiffany Braley of the University of Michigan, who led the study, said: "Previous studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and stress."

 

Animal handlers, including dogs, cats and rabbits, retained more of their cognitive abilities when followed for six years (Getty Images)
"Our results suggest that having a companion animal may also protect against cognitive decline," he continued.

The researchers also wish that the cognitive benefits associated with keeping pets longer were greater for African-Americans, college-educated adults, and men. The director of the study stated that the possible reasons for these associations need to be further investigated.

Responding to the results being released, Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK medical centre, said: "Humans love their animals, and animals can be an important source of companionship and comfort to throughout our lives."

 

"While this study from the United States linked living with a companion animal to some protection in memory and impaired thinking, it can't tell us yet if these are long-term benefits or if owning a pet has anything to do with it." the risk of dementia”, added Sancho.

 

Link: https://www.infobae.com/america/perrosygatos/2022/02/28/los-perros-y-gatos-protegen-a-sus-tutores-de-la-perdida-de-memoria/