A new study suggests that getting those cute dogs at a more mature age may be a good idea.
Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, found that having a pet may be associated with a slower rate of dementia progression.
The study, published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, concluded that having a pet can make a difference in verbal memory and fluency among adults who live alone.
NEW STUDY SHOWS THE EFFECTS OF OWNING A PET ON THE OWNER’S BRAIN
Study author Professor Ciyong Lu said in the research that a slower rate of decline in memory and verbal fluency occurred in those who lived alone – but not in those who lived with other people.
“Pet ownership offsets the association between living alone and declining numbers [of] verbal memory and verbal fluency,” he said.
Researchers have found that having a pet helps people with dementia. (iStock)
The study involved more than 7,900 participants over the age of 50, with around 35% of them having pets and 27% living alone.
In the study, Lu said those who lived alone with pets had a slower rate of progression of signs of dementia.
GOOD NEWS FOR DOG OWNERS: KEEPING A DOG CAN LEAD TO A STRONGER MEMORY AND BETTER PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
“These findings suggest that pet ownership may be associated with slower cognitive decline among older adults living alone,” he said.
“Unlike living alone,” the authors also wrote, “pet ownership (e.g. owning dogs and cats) is associated with reduced feelings of loneliness, which is an important risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline.”
A new study finds that having a pet may be beneficial for people with signs of dementia who live alone. (iStock)
Lu said clinical trials are needed to confirm the research results.
Currently, more than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia – with almost 10 million new cases each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is currently the 7th cause of death, according to WHO records.
Early symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, confusion, losing track of time, misjudging distance, anxiety, personality changes, engaging in inappropriate behavior, and more. (iStock)
Early symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, confusion, losing track of time, misjudging distance, anxiety, personality changes, inappropriate behavior, and more.
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There is currently no drug that can cure dementia or for someone experiencing signs of dementia, but WHO suggests that staying active and continuing to stimulate the brain can help.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Lu for further comment.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Brittany Kasko is a lifestyle production assistant at Fox News Digital.
2023-12-26 18:15:13
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