Pets and the key role in the health of elderly and lonely people

Pets and the key role in the health of elderly and lonely people

A study confirmed that older people who live alone, but have pets, will have slower cognitive decline. I know the details.

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A recent investigation, based on the monitoring of almost 8 thousand citizens over eight years, highlighted the fundamental role of pets in the slowing cognitive decline of older people, an increasingly large social group in Argentina, who live alone.

The results of this study were presented in JAMA Network Open and suggest that the presence of a animal companion can act as a key factorsince it reduces the feeling of lonelinessan emotion that was previously linked to increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s.

Having pets is health: what is its effect on older and lonely people

According to the findings of the study, the old people who resided alone experienced a faster decline in memory and verbal fluency compared to those that They shared their home with other individuals. However, those who had the company of a pet They maintained their verbal skills, as did those who did not live alone. On the other hand, for those who shared their space with other people, the presence of a pet it did not offer a distinctive benefit.

Pets and older adults: what previous studies say

These data reinforce previous research that already hinted at the positive effects it has on the brain health of older people living with a pet.

Compared to those previously carried out, this new research adopts a prospective approach, analyzing cognitive decline over the years and covering a large and representative sample of the population. This study not only corroborates the connection between pets and the cognitive healthbut also establishes a preceding by exploring this relationship in more detail and over time.


Source: Ambito

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