New research shows that individuals who are 66 years old or older that have a pet tend to see slower rates of cognitive decline than people who do not have a pet.
This new research was conducted by a team from Sun Yat-sen University in China, with the resulting paper being published in the journal, JAMA Network Open.
The team used verbal memory to assess cognitive fitness during this study. Verbal memory looks at someone’s ability to verbalize something that has been said to them. It is said to assess speech, memory, fluency, and cognition.
As someone ages, their likelihood of developing dementia of any sort increases, just like the likelihood of suffering from other illnesses goes up. Part of this is just time, part of it is due to the nature of physiological changes that occur within the body as someone ages. However, the study once again points to the importance of having a support network.
This is especially interesting because past research has indicated that people who live alone are already at a higher risk of developing dementia. One of the takeaways from this study is that perhaps this could be prevented for some people simply by getting a pet.
Not everyone is a pet person. This information probably won’t be helpful for a senior that has a deep dislike for animals. However, this premise can carry forward into other parts of life beyond pets. One of the reasons why caring for a pet can be so helpful is that it instills both a sense of purpose and a sense of responsibility over another living being.
It’s interesting to point out that when someone lived with other individuals, the ownership of a pet didn’t seem to have any impact on the rate of cognitive decline that was experienced. Pet ownership only seemed to have a positive impact on cognitive health for those people that lived alone. The authors of the research hypothesized that loneliness is the difference maker here.
There’s a lot more research that’s needed here. The above referenced study is by no means comprehensive. It also doesn’t mean that buying a dog for an older loved one is the best way to keep them healthy. In fact, each individual is different, with their own unique set of needs, goals, and wants. As they age, their situation is likely to be different from other people’s. Studies like this one are helpful, but they speak in generalities, and not to the specific set of needs of the individual.
This is why an individualized approach to senior care is so important. Regardless of the needs that an elderly loved one might be up against, there is a care solution out there that can help them to live a better life. If you’re not sure where to start, please feel free to give us a call here at Paradise In-Home Care. We offer free consultation sessions designed to help answer questions and make sure that the care process is as painless and stress free as possible.
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