Owning a dog or cat may reduce the risk of dementia in older adults living alone. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. JAMA Network Open.
Approximately 8 thousand people participated in the survey. They told scientists about their living conditions as well as whether they had pets. Scientists evaluated their verbal fluency and memory using special tests: Participants were given a list of words they needed to remember and were also asked to list as many animals as possible in one minute.
It is normal for memory and fluency to decrease with age. However, scientists found that the decline was slower in single people with pets. Previous studies have shown that living alone is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. The new study shows that people who live alone with pets have no higher risk of dementia than those who live with family.
Scientists believe that regular interaction with a pet can reduce the stress and anxiety that often comes with living alone and increase the risk of dementia. Additionally, walking dogs keeps people active and socializes with others, and physical and social activity are factors that reduce the risk of dementia.
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