Owning a dog or cat may be linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults, according to a preliminary study by the University of Michigan Medical Center.
The effect may be strongest when the pet is present for five years or longer.
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The study looked at 1,369 older adults with normal cognitive skills at the start of the investigation. The average age was 65.
Researchers say 53% of participants in the study owned pets, and 32% were long-term pet owners. The subjects were given multiple cognitive tests.
Over six years, cognitive scores decreased at a slower rate in pet owners.
More research is needed to confirm the results of this limited analysis, however. The data will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting next month.