Feb 24, 2022 (iflscience.com) - Dog ownership appears to be linked with a lower risk of disability in older people, according to new research.
The study, conducted in Japan, looked at the roles of pets in later life and how taking care of them might have benefits to an owner’s wellbeing.
Cat and dog owners were interviewed in this research. As reported in the journal PLOS ONE, the team found that older adults who were current dog owners were almost half as likely to have a disability compared to people who never had a dog. The relationship held true when sociodemographic and health factors that could influence disability risk were taken into account. These varied from marital status to history of chronic diseases, to time spent outdoors, etc. The risk for dog owners that exercised regularly was even lower.
But it is not just about pet companionship, as cat owners didn’t benefit from the same reduced risk. The authors suggest that the requirements of owning a dog make people more active, reducing the risk of physical frailty, which is linked to future disability. Dog owners, due to having to take their canine companions for a walk, are four times more likely to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines than non-owners.
