Pet ownership, living alone, and cognitive decline among adults age 50 and older

JAMA Network Open

2023-12-26

(Press-News.org) About The Study: Pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in verbal memory and verbal fluency among older adults living alone, but not among those living with others in this study of 7,900 participants age 50 and older. Pet ownership offset the associations between living alone and declining rates in verbal memory and verbal fluency. Further studies are needed to assess whether pet ownership slows the rate of cognitive decline in older adults living alone.

Authors: Ciyong Lu, Ph.D., of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, is the corresponding author.

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(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.49241)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

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Pet ownership, living alone, and cognitive decline among adults age 50 and older

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