Just like how a great workout can make you feel awesome both physically and mentally, owning a pet can do wonders for your brain! Researchers have found that having a furry friend at home is associated with better cognitive and brain health in adults. It’s like having a personal trainer for your mind! Similar to how exercise improves your overall well-being, owning a pet indirectly enhances cognition by improving your mood, social interaction, and reducing stress. In a study involving 95 participants aged 20–74, pet owners had higher levels of cognition and larger brain structures, especially dog owners. The benefits included faster processing speed, improved attention, better memory, and enhanced brain networks. And guess what? Owning a pet can even make your brain age up to 15 years younger! It’s like finding the fountain of youth for your mind. Plus, older adults who owned more than one pet experienced even greater brain health benefits. So, if you want to boost your brainpower and protect against age-related cognitive decline, it’s time to consider getting a furry companion! Check out the full article to dive deeper into the fascinating research behind the amazing benefits of pet ownership.
Human-animal interactions that stem from pet ownership have a wide range of benefits for social, emotional, and physical health. These factors also tend to improve cognition. Following this logic, owning a pet could indirectly enhance cognitive and brain health through mechanisms like improvements in well-being, socialization, and decreased stress. In the present study, cross-sectional data were drawn from the Alabama Brain Study on Risk for Dementia in which 95 participants aged 20–74 were recruited. Specifically, 56 adults were pet-owners and 39 adults were not pet-owners. Multivariate analyses revealed that pet ownership was related to higher levels of cognition and larger brain structures, and these effects were largest in dog owners. The most consistent cognitive relationships were found with better processing speed, attentional orienting, and episodic memory for stories, and with dorsal attention, limbic, and default mode networks. Moreover, we show that owning a pet can reduce one’s brain age by up to 15 years. Pet ownership was not related to indirect factors including social, emotional, and physical health. We found also that older adults’ brain health benefited from owning more than one pet versus owning one or fewer pets. These findings indicate that pet ownership, especially dog ownership, may play a role in enhancing cognitive performance across the adult lifespan, which could in turn influence protection against age-related cognitive decline.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.