Dogs and cats may slow cognitive decline
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Researchers examined 18 years’ worth of data from 16,582 people 50 and older (average age 63, 54% women). They assessed the link between pet ownership and cognitive decline, as well as any distinctions between people who had dogs, cats, birds, and fish. Just under 40% of study participants were pet owners. Researchers found that people with dogs showed a slower decline in memory (including both immediate and delayed recall) compared with participants who didn’t own pets. Meanwhile, cat owners experienced a slower decline in verbal fluency (the ability to easily and rapidly produce words). No cognitive benefits were found to owning fish or birds.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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