Owning a pet slows cognitive decline for older adults living alone

A new study published in JAMA Neurology found that pet ownership is associated with slower rates of decline in cognitive skills, including verbal memory, verbal fluency and overall verbal cognition in older adults living alone. The study showed that this wasn’t necessarily the case in adults living with other people. The scientists behind the study say it suggests pet ownership may be a good alternative for people who don’t have frequent interactions with others.

The study used data from 7,945 adults aged 50 or older living in the UK from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Over 9 years, they compared rates of decline in cognitive skills between pet owners and non-pet owners.