Dog owners over 65 are 40% less likely to develop dementia

Publish date: 2024-08-04

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Adding to the long list of reasons to love dogs, new research reveals their paw-sitive health benefits for the human brain.

A study published in the December edition of Preventive Medicine Reports has revealed that dog owners over the age of 65 were 40% less likely to develop dementia.

Take that, cat people.

“This study showed that physical activity, including having an exercise habit and social participation through daily dog care can prevent dementia in older adults,” the authors wrote.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a severe memory loss condition, including struggles with language, problem-solving and other thinking activities that interfere with day-to-day life, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases.

Owning any dog breed — but not cats — at the age of 65 or older can reduce the risk of dementia by 40%. Getty Images

The World Health Organization reported that 55 million people globally are currently living with dementia.

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology looked at 12,000 residents of the Japanese city, finding that dog ownership means they’ll be more likely to leave the house, thus increasing human-to-human interaction and exercising the brain.

Following a four-year study period, owning a dog had a “suppressive effect” on dementia development, even after adjusting for background factors.

Dementia is an umbrella term for severe loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that interfere with day-to-day life. Getty Images

“Specifically, dog owners with an exercise habit and no social isolation had a significantly lower risk of disabling dementia,” the report read.

Having a furry companion typically increases both physical activity and social interactions simply while taking your pet on a walk — both of which are vital factors in maintaining brain health and preventing cognitive decline.

“Dog care might contribute to the maintenance of physical activity, including having an exercise habit, and social participation even in the face of restrictions to interactions such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” researchers concluded.

Having a furry companion typically increases both physical activity and social interactions simply while taking your pet on a walk. Getty Images/iStockphoto

While the likelihood of developing dementia was higher for dog owners who did not regularly exercise and were socially isolated, it was still lower than someone who did not have a dog and didn’t exercise or socialize.

Meanwhile, evidence found in recent studies suggests spending just five to 20 minutes petting a dog can drop levels of the stress hormone cortisol in people.

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