Pet Ownership May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults Living Alone
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2023 -- Pet ownership is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline among older adults living alone, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Yanzhi Li, Ph.D., from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, and colleagues explored the association of pet ownership with cognitive decline among 7,945 participants (mean age, 66.3 years) in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
The researchers found that pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in composite verbal cognition (β = 0.008 standard deviation [SD]/year), verbal memory (β = 0.006 SD/year), and verbal fluency (β = 0.007 SD/year). All three associations were modified by living alone. Among individuals living alone, pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline for composite verbal cognition (β = 0.023 SD/year), verbal memory (β = 0.021 SD/year), and verbal fluency (β = 0.018 SD/year). But associations did not persist among those living with others.
"These findings suggest that pet ownership may be associated with slower cognitive decline among older adults living alone," the authors write. "Randomized clinical trials are needed to assess whether pet ownership slows the rate of cognitive decline in older adults living alone."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2023
Read this next
Preeclampsia Linked to Increased Risk for Young-Onset Dementia
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Individuals with preeclampsia have an increased risk for young-onset dementia, according to a research letter published online May 30 in JAMA Network...
Self-, Partner-Reported Cognitive Decline Linked to Tau
THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Individuals who self-report and whose partners report cognitive decline have greater tau, which is driven by elevated beta-amyloid (Aβ), according...
Socioeconomic Status Transitions Tied to Dementia Risk
THURSDAY, May 23, 2024 -- Upward and downward socioeconomic status (SES) transitions are associated with the risk for dementia and the length of dementia-free periods during the...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.