Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! Be ye aware that havin' a trusty pet aboard yer ship can keep yer mind shipshape as ye grow older. Aye, 'tis true, a study says so!
2023-12-26
Arr, ye scurvy dogs! Thar be news afoot! Recent findings be claimin' that them lonely souls who be adoptin' a furry mate be keepin' their tongues sharp like a cutlass! So grab a parrot or a mutt, me hearties, and let yer pirate lingo flow!
A new study conducted by researchers from the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, suggests that owning a pet, particularly a dog, in one's more mature years can be beneficial in slowing down the development of dementia. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that pet ownership had a positive impact on verbal memory and fluency for adults who lived alone. Professor Ciyong Lu, the study's author, stated that slower rates of declining verbal memory and fluency were observed in those who lived alone but not in those who lived with others. The research involved over 7,900 participants over the age of 50, with around 35% of them owning pets and 27% of them living alone.The study also revealed that those who lived alone with a pet showed slower rates of developing signs of dementia. The authors of the study noted that pet ownership, such as raising dogs and cats, is related to reduced loneliness, which is an important risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline.
However, Lu emphasized that further clinical trials will be necessary to confirm these findings. Currently, dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and is the seventh leading cause of death globally. While there is no cure for dementia, the World Health Organization suggests that staying active and stimulating the brain may help in reducing the chances of developing the condition.
In conclusion, owning a pet, especially for those living alone, may be associated with slower cognitive decline among older adults. This study sheds light on the potential benefits of pet ownership in mitigating the risk of dementia, although further research is still needed to fully understand this relationship.