A recent study involving participants over the age of 50 suggests that caring for a pet can help mitigate cognitive decline in individuals living alone.
The research found that pet ownership, particularly among older adults living alone, was linked to slower rates of decline in verbal memory and verbal fluency.
The study followed participants for eight years and revealed that pet ownership acted as a significant modifier, offsetting the associations between living alone and cognitive decline.
Previous studies showed living alone could be a risk factor in cognitive decline and the onset of dementia.
Learn more at https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/owning-pets-helps-stave-off-dementia-for-people-over-50-living-on-their-own/