With their loyalty and affection, pets enrich people's lives. Their personalities, quirks, and antics bring smiles and laughs. Pet ownership can be a source of abundant joy for people of any age.
Dogs can welcome you home with leaps and twirls and kisses that banish the stress of the day. Cats might purr quietly and wrap themselves around your legs. Pets keep you company while you watch TV or sit beside you while you gaze at the sunset. Walking your pooch around the block or going on a long nature hike will surely lift your spirits. And playing ball with them is sure to leave you feeling uplifted.
But did you know that pet ownership improves both your physical and mental health? Pets encourage people to exercise more, as pets often need regular walks, playtime, and care. Also, the physical activity that pet ownership involves can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Pets can also provide unconditional love and companionship. This, in turn, can ease stress and ward off feelings of sadness or depression. (Notice how you feel calmer when you give a dog a belly rub or stroke a cat’s soft fur?)
Researchers have also explored how pet ownership may help protect brain health and functioning, especially in older adults. This health benefit may be surprising and calls for a closer look.
2 ways pet ownership can keep your brain sharp
Research is ongoing, but recent studies suggest that owning a pet can contribute to brain health in 2 ways. First, it can slow the aging process. Second, it can slow the advance of dementia and/or help people cope with Alzheimer’s disease.
Some pluses for owning a pet apply to all of us. Others apply to those dealing with some degree of cognitive decline. Here are a few examples.
Pet ownership helps cognitive health for any adult
When it comes to brain health, pet ownership can bring benefits to any adult. Research shows that pet ownership can improve brain health across the ages of 24 to 75. Pets can help people keep their cognitive abilities strong by:
Aiding memory and verbal ability. Owning a pet can make brain structures larger. This translates to advantages such as:
- Your brain processing information faster
- Memory decline becoming slower and memory for stories becoming stronger
- Increases in ability to pay attention
- Slower decline in verbal fluency
Combating loneliness. Loneliness can lead to cognitive issues at any age. Researchers have proposed that pet ownership eases the loneliness and isolation that results from living alone. Pets provide unconditional love and companionship. Enjoying life with your pet, especially if you live alone, can help your brain work at its best.
Keeping people active. Another positive of pet ownership is that it can keep people active no matter their age. Your dog may be the perfect companion on a strenuous mountain hike. She may accompany you on a run through the park. Some dogs love kayaking, lake swimming, and exploring botanical gardens. Options for fun activities with your dog are endless. However, if you want to enjoy some of these more rigorous outdoor activities, make sure your dog also likes this kind of activity.
As you get older and become less active, you likely can still enjoy neighborhood walks with your dog. One study revealed that pet ownership keeps people moving and slows rates of cognitive decline in those living in a retirement facility. This study also reported that residents who walked their dogs frequently showed the slowest decrease in cognitive ability.
Pet ownership has positive effects on those with Alzheimer’s disease
Even for those with Alzheimer’s disease, pet ownership has been shown to slow cognitive decline.
Here is one important example. Those with Alzheimer’s disease display various problems carrying out activities of daily living. Pet ownership has been shown to significantly improve daily living for those with this disease, which means more independence for those who battle it.
Activities of daily living encompass much of day-to-day life and include:
- Walking from one place to another
- Eating meals without assistance
- Choosing clothes and getting dressed
- Bathing and grooming appropriately
- Using the toilet
Other activities affected by Alzheimer’s:
- Managing medications
- Managing finances
- Shopping for food and making meals
- Cleaning the house
So, by slowing cognitive decline, pet ownership has the potential to improve all of these activities and aspects of daily life for those with Alzheimer’s.
Other benefits of pet ownership as you age
Not only can pet ownership benefit brain health, but it also can:
Add meaning to life. Caring for a pet can give you a boost in morale and foster a sense of self-worth. Your pup bouncing around in the morning, anticipating his walk, may give you a reason to get up and start your day. A little cat walking around your pillow can also make waking up a joyful time.
Sometimes aging brings a decrease in activities that had given purpose to life. You may retire from a fulfilling career. Family may live far away. But if your dog needs to be brushed or your cat wants to play catch with his toy mouse, you have some joy automatically built into your day.
Help you stay connected. Keeping up a social network can take work. It can also become more difficult as you grow older. Friends may retire and move away. Illness and death may take away close friends and family members. On top of all this, making new friends may not be as easy.
Pets are a great way to start conversations. This is especially the case for dog ownership. If you are out walking your dog or at the dog park, people may greet you and stop to talk. This can be a fun way to cultivate new friendships.
People may stop you over your dog and want to take a photo. Others might offer their own pet’s biscuits. Taking your furry friend to a dog-friendly restaurant patio will bring people from every direction wanting to chat about their dogs and yours. In these ways, your dog will certainly help liven up your social life.
Boost your vitality. Aging may bring physical changes. Taking care of yourself by being active can slow these changes, boost your immune system, and increase your energy.
As vitality slows with age, pets are still a valuable source of joy and health. So, older or infirm people may be able to ask for help caring for a pet. Friends or neighbors or a local service may walk the dog. Driving services can help with vet visits. Family may assist in caring for a pet. And if pet ownership is not a good idea, pets can visit a retirement or nursing home and bring cheer to the residents there.
Any pet can improve your health
If you are thinking of adopting a pet, you may want to consider where you live, how much time you can devote to a pet, and how active you want to be. While dogs and cats are the most popular, other pets may suit you better. Here are a few options:
Rabbits. If you suffer from allergies, rabbits may be a good choice. They also can live in smaller spaces than some dogs.
Birds. While easy to care for and contain, a chirping bird can provide company for you.
Fish. Sit and watch fish calmly swimming in an aquarium and feel your muscles relax!
Why cats and dogs are the most popular
As far as pet owners’ brain health goes, studies show that dog ownership is the most beneficial. For example, one study reported that those who owned dogs and walked them showed the highest marks in brain health over time. But some people prefer cats over dogs. Here are a few differences to think about :
Dogs need daily exercise. Dogs benefit from walking or running/fetching a toy in a backyard. Choosing a lively dog could be a major plus if you want to motivate yourself to be more active. Also, be honest with yourself about whether you have the physical ability to walk a dog. You should also consider if you live in a place suited to your choice of dog.
Cats can use a litter box. Cats do not need to go outside or use pads inside to go to the bathroom. You do have to be willing to clean the litter box often. Also, if you are not able to safely walk a dog, a cat may be a good choice of pet.
Cats are often more independent while dogs want more interaction. Cats often want to be left alone or just be near you. Dogs usually prefer interaction such as petting, playing ball, jumping up to greet you, or following you from room to room. Either animal can ease loneliness so give some thought to how much time you want to spend with your pet.
For some, multiple pets are another good option. You may want to own more than one dog or one cat. Or maybe both cats and dogs. Research suggests that those who own more than one pet have better brain health benefits.
While there are many benefits when it comes to pet ownership, keeping your brain sharp is high on the list. Add in all the ways a pet can bring you joy, and you may find yourself heading to the nearest animal shelter for a new friend. Consider the types of pets that are best suited to your lifestyle. Then decide whether to experience the joys of pet ownership—and boost your brain health, too!
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This article was written by Sharon Odegaard, edited by Kimberley Reynolds, and clinically reviewed by Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RDN, on July 2, 2024.
