Dog and cat owners over the age of 50 show a slower decline in cognitive function compared to those who do not have pets. This is according to the results of a large-scale European study published in the journal Scientific Reports (Nature).
Scientists have found that dog owners retain their memory longer, while cat owners lose their speech activity more slowly. Researchers attribute this to several factors. Interacting with animals requires constant engagement and serves as a kind of “mental training.” For example, contact with a dog activates the prefrontal cortex of the brain, enhancing attention and emotional response. Cats, thanks to their unpredictability, stimulate areas associated with speech and thinking.
Ownership of birds or fish, as the study showed, had no statistically significant association with slowing cognitive decline.
The analysis was based on data from eight waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) between 2004 and 2022. The sample included people aged 50 and older. Cognitive functions were assessed in two main areas: episodic memory (the ability to remember and reproduce both immediate and delayed events) and executive functions (e.g., verbal fluency—the ability to quickly select words from a specific category).
According to the authors, the results obtained may be useful in developing policies in the field of “healthy aging.” In particular, this refers to supporting programs that facilitate the conditions for elderly people to keep pets, as well as including this topic in government and social initiatives for care and psychological support.
