- Dogs ownership reduces dementia risk
- Physical and social activity crucial
- Caution: Exercise and interaction matter
It is common knowledge that dogs are man’s best friends; now, research indicates that this may be due to dogs’ mental health benefits.
Researchers in Japan discovered that seniors who own a dog of any breed but not a cat have a 40% lower risk of developing dementia than those who do not own one.
They claim that owning a dog increases the probability of leaving the home, increasing human interactions and consequently stimulating the brain.
The aforementioned has a “suppressive effect” on the progression of the incapacitating ailment. This ailment impacts an excess of 55 million individuals globally.
Additionally, prior studies have indicated that dog ownership safeguards older individuals against frailty, disability, and death from any cause.
Japanese Study Reveals Dog Ownership’s Protective Effect
Researchers from Japan’s Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology led the new study. They claim it is the first to demonstrate that dog ownership protects against dementia.
Their paper states, “Dog owners with an exercise routine and no social isolation had a significantly lower risk of disabling dementia.”
Dog care may encourage social participation and the maintenance of physical activity, including the development of an exercise routine, despite the limitations on interactions that have been imposed since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding Dementia and its Prevention
Dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms caused by a decline in brain function, is most frequently Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease and numerous other dementias are characterised by an atypical accumulation of proteins within the brain.
However, this accumulation is diminished through exercise, ensuring sufficient blood circulation to the brain and promoting brain cells’ survival and proliferation.
Role of Physical and Mental Activity
Maintaining mental and social engagement is often advised to avoid dementia along with physical activity.
Engaging in mental activity contributes to developing “cognitive reserve,” the brain’s capacity to endure and continue functioning.
Study Methodology and Findings
The researchers enrolled 11,194 Japanese seniors between the ages of 65 and 84 for the study.
All participants were in a state of physical and cognitive independence at the onset of the study. They were administered questionnaires inquiring about their ownership status of a cat or dog.
Participants were asked about their weekly physical activities, including stretching, yoga, swimming, cycling, and walking.
Their health was evaluated approximately four years later, taking into account the emergence of any dementia-related conditions.
Researchers determined the ‘odds ratio’ for the full group, which shows dog and cat owners’ dementia risk.
After controlling for confounding variables, the odds ratio for dog owners was 0.6. Whereas it was significantly higher at 0.98 for cat owners and 1 for those without canines or cats.
As anticipated, the participant’s level of physical activity also impacted their susceptibility to dementia; however, this finding proved to be a critical distinction for individuals who own dogs.
Impact of Exercise and Social Isolation on Dog Owners
The risk ratio for dementia was 0.37, lower for dog owners who exercised regularly than non-dog owners.
Dog owners who did not exercise had an odds ratio of 0.89, considerably higher than those without dogs.
Additionally, the odds ratio for current dog owners without social isolation was 0.41, in contrast to those without canines who experienced social isolation.
Thus, dog owners and socially active people are least likely to develop incapacitating dementia.
Cautionary Note on Dog Ownership
If you are socially isolated and inactive, having a dog does not protect you from the disease, the team says.
They write, “Dog owners who did not engage in daily lifestyle habits associated with dog care, such as social isolation and lack of exercise, did not observe any beneficial effects in terms of preventing dementia.”
Global Implications and WHO Statistics
The researchers found that Japan had fewer dog and cat owners than Western countries like the US.
Therefore, it will be crucial to determine whether the relationships observed in Japan exist in the West and other nations as well,” they state.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 50 million individuals worldwide have dementia. The annual incidence is about 10 million new cases.
An ageing population is projected to cause nearly three-quarters of the world’s dementia cases to increase. This projection is expected to reach over 152 million by 2050, according to a study published in 2021.
According to experts from the University of Washington, eastern sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East are anticipated to experience the most significant increase in dementia prevalence.
