New research has found that owning a dog or cat may help slow cognitive decline in older adults, offering a potential ally in healthy ageing efforts amid rising dementia rates.
The study suggests that while all pets can offer companionship, cats and dogs may provide unique benefits for brain health.
Adriana Rostekova, lead author and researcher at the University of Geneva’s lifespan developmental psychology research group, found that dog owners retained stronger memory skills — both short-term and long-term — while cat owners experienced a slower decline in verbal fluency.
“Pet ownership has been linked to a positive influence on cognitive functioning and cognitive decline in late adulthood,” said Rostekova, whose study was published in Nature. “However, there is limited understanding of how different species of pets are associated with these outcomes.”
Using data from 18 years of the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe, Rostekova’s study followed adults aged 50 and above to understand how owning specific animals — dogs, cats, birds, and fish — influenced cognitive health over time.
She noted that fish and bird owners did not show the same cognitive protection benefits. “Several explanations may help explain the absence of this association in fish and bird owners, despite the reports of their ownership’s positive influence on wellbeing in ways that are usually associated with cognitive benefits,” she said.
Among the reasons, Rostekova pointed to shorter lifespans of fish, which may prevent strong emotional bonds from forming, and noise levels from birds, which may disrupt sleep — a known contributor to cognitive decline.
“[It is] further possible that interaction with dogs and cats provides unique cognitive stimulation, which may be less pronounced in other, less demanding pets,” she added.
Prior studies support these findings, showing that interaction with dogs can increase prefrontal brain activity and heighten emotional and attentional responses. Similarly, cats — with their unpredictable behavior — may stimulate brain areas like the prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus.
“There is also a possibility of increased social stimulation facilitated by cats and dogs, which may be linked to the slower cognitive decline experienced by their owners: an increased frequency of social interactions when accompanied by a dog – or for cats, a substitute for a social network,” said Rostekova.
As healthcare systems like the NHS face growing pressure from ageing populations and a surge in dementia diagnoses, such findings may inform broader public health strategies focused on prevention and lifestyle.
Andrew Scott, economist and author of The Longevity Imperative, noted the wider implications: "We tend to think of health as being about disease and hospitals but as we live longer and need to focus on preventive measures that keep us healthy for longer, we will discover that the health system extends well beyond doctors and hospitals," reported The Guardian.