Dog owners seeheart benefits, while pups and cats reduce thestress hormone cortisol.
In this study, better cognition in adults over 65 was linked to extended pet ownership.
The study analyzed data from over 20,00 adults over 50 years old.
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Over the six years from 2010 to 2016, each participant answered certain questions about their pets.
This effect remained as the individuals aged.
While not necessarily causation, it suggests once more a relationship between furry friends and health.
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In this case, we may think better as we age thanks to Fido.
Why might pet ownership improve brain health?
The diversity of bacteria pets bring into the house may boost our guts.
Maybe it’s due to the chats we have with our four-legged friends which exercise our verbal neural networks.
No matter the mechanism, pet ownership is increasingly recognized as beneficialsomething animal lovers knew all along.
