These pets protect you from Dementia

When it comes to keeping your brain in shape as you age, one powerful ally might already be curled up on your couch or wagging its tail at the door.

A new study in Scientific Reports found that owning certain pets is linked to slower mental decline in people over 50.

This is according to a new study from the University of Geneva.

The researchers analyzed 18 years of data from more than 50,000 adults aged 50 and older across Europe.

The study focused on two key brain functions:

- executive functioning (which helps us plan and make decisions)
- episodic memory (which lets us recall specific experiences).

They tracked how these abilities changed over time in people with and without pets.

Even more interesting—they broke it down by pet type: dogs, cats, birds, and fish.

Here’s what they found:

1. Pet owners in general experienced a slower decline in both executive functioning and episodic memory.

2. Dog owners showed a slower decline in immediate and delayed memory.

3. Cat owners had a slower decline in verbal fluency, like being able to quickly name words in a category.

4. Bird and fish owners didn’t see a noticeable brain benefit.

5. Age didn’t change the results. The benefits of dog and cat ownership applied to all groups over 50.

The researchers concluded that having a dog or cat may help protect against cognitive decline and support healthy brain aging.

Why this benefit?

It could be that dogs and cats require a bit of daily mental engagement, whether it’s remembering feeding schedules, planning walks, or responding to a cat’s unpredictable behavior.

Dogs also tend to increase social interaction, which is linked to better mental health.

So if you’re looking for a fun, meaningful way to support your brain as you age, a four-legged companion might be just what the doctor ordered.

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