How Owning a Pet Helps Keep Your Brain Young, According to Research
Most pet lovers don’t need research to convince them of the benefits of having furry friends around the house. But if you’re looking to convince a skeptical partner or roommate that vacuuming up the hair and sharing walk duties is worth the trouble, a mountain of evidence exists.
Previous studies have shown that owning a dog builds leadership skills, cuddling a pet is a wildly effective stress buster (and might even extend your life), and having dogs around the office boosts kindness and collaboration. In short, science is pretty sure pets are great for you. And a new study adds another potential benefit to opening your home to a furred, feathered, or even finned friend.
The research out of the University of Michigan, the University of Florida, and Virginia Commonwealth University, which was recently published in Aging and Health, suggests having a pet also helps keep your brain young.
Your pet is good for your brain.
For the study, scientists analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 20,000 Americans over 50 about whether or not they owned a pet over a six-year period. They then compared pet ownership status with performance on cognitive tests. Turns out, Fido isn’t just a reason to get out and exercise more. Having a…
