“Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress,” said study author Tiffany Braley of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Our results indicate that pet ownership could also protect against cognitive decline .”

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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 taken from the Health and Retirement Study. This large survey of Medicare beneficiaries provided data. People were tested on multiple cognitive skills. Researchers used those cognitive tests to develop a composite cognitive score for each person, ranging from zero to 27. This composite score also included subtraction and numeric counting as well as word recall.

Researchers then used participants’ composite cognitive scores and estimated the associations between years of pet ownership and cognitive function.

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Over six years cognitive scores declined at a slower pace 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 cognitive benefits of pet ownership for longer periods were also stronger in college-educated individuals, Blacks, and males. Braley says more research is needed to further explore the possible reasons for these associations.

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“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. However, further research is required to verify our findings and determine the underlying mechanisms of this association .”

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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.