A new observational study has shown that cognitive decline was slower among older adults who owned pets.

Over a period of 6 years, cognitive scores decreased at a slower rate among people who owned pets compared to those without pets, reported researchers. The extent of the association was larger among long-term pet owners, with a cognitive composite score 1.2 points higher at 6 years compared to non-pet owners (P=0.03).

The researchers assessed 1,369 individuals with a mean age of 65 years in the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (HRS). People with impaired cognitive function at baseline were excluded from the study. Cognitive assessments from 2010 to 2016 were used to develop a composite score derived from an immediate and delayed 10-noun free recall test, a serial seven subtraction test, and a backwards count test, with a score range of 0-27. The cognitive benefits tied to longer pet ownership were more marked among people who were Black, college-educated, and men. The findings were reported in an abstract released ahead of the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting… (Medpage Today)