According to Kyodo News on November 24, the team of the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center in Japan recently published research results in international scientific journals, saying that compared with people who do not own dogs, the risk of dementia in the elderly with dogs is lower. It is claimed that this is the first time that the link between pet ownership and dementia has been revealed.
The survey analyzed data from 2016 to 2020 among 11,194 people aged 65 and over in Tokyo. Over the past four years, 5% of the respondents had dementia, and dog owners had a 40% lower risk of developing dementia than those who did not own dogs.
The researchers also found a tendency among dog owners to have a lower risk of developing the disease in those who had exercise Xi and who were not in social isolation. In addition, there was no difference in the risk of developing a cat or not. Among the respondents, the dog breeding rate was 86%, and the cat breeding rate is 63%。
Yu Taniguchi, a co-researcher at the center and chief researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Research, said, "Exercising and expanding the circle of friends through walks unique to dogs can be very effective for dog owners. "Yu Taniguchi believes that it is possible to prevent dementia and maintain health by raising dogs.
The team has also previously published research that says that older adults with dogs are at a lower risk of death and need for care.
An elderly man in a nursing home in Hong Kong, China, is holding a therapy dog on October 25. (AFP).