A recent cohort study delved into the intriguing relationship between pet ownership, living arrangements, and cognitive decline in older adults, shedding light on a potential link that could significantly impact mental health in aging populations. This study was published in the journal JAMA Network Open by Yanzhi Li. and colleagues.
The research utilized data spanning from waves 5 to 9 (June 2010 to July 2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, involving adults aged 50 and above. The study aimed to examine the association between pet ownership and cognitive decline, exploring how living alone might interact with pet ownership concerning cognitive health in older individuals.
Positive Association with Pet Ownership: Among the 7,945 participants, pet ownership was linked to slower rates of decline in composite verbal cognition, verbal memory, and verbal fluency over time.
Living Arrangement Dynamics: Importantly, the study highlighted that the effects of pet ownership on cognitive decline varied based on living arrangements. Pet ownership was notably associated with mitigated cognitive decline among individuals living alone but not among those cohabiting with others.
Impact of Pet Ownership: Pet ownership appeared to offset the association between living alone and declining rates of verbal memory and verbal fluency. However, there were no significant differences in cognitive decline rates between pet owners living alone and those living with others.
The findings suggest that owning a pet might offer cognitive benefits specifically to older adults living alone, potentially slowing down the decline in verbal memory and fluency. The study emphasizes the need for further research to delve deeper into the direct impact of pet ownership on cognitive decline among older adults living independently.
The study's insights illuminate a potential link between pet ownership, living arrangements, and cognitive health in older adults. The findings underscore the need for continued exploration into the role of pets in mitigating cognitive decline, particularly among individuals living alone.
Reference:
Li, Y., Wang, W., Zhu, L., Yang, L., Wu, H., Zhang, X., Guo, L., & Lu, C. Pet ownership, living alone, and cognitive decline among adults 50 years and older. JAMA Network Open,2023;6(12):e2349241. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.49241