Seniors Who Own Dogs Feel 10 Years Younger: Study

Older adults who own a pet dog are healthier and live longer than their peers, according to a study.

Dogs are man's best companions and are known to give unconditional love and affection. A new research by experts at the University of St Andrews discovered keeping four legged pals can be beneficial to the mental and physical well being of individuals aged over 65. They found that dog owners feel healthier, physically fit and active and feel 10 years younger than those who don't have dogs.

Past clinical trials suggest that spending time with animals allay depressive symptoms triggered by loneliness, blood pressure and heart rate in seniors. The current experiment examined physical activity levels among 547 seniors in Tayside who were aged 79 years on average. Almost 9 percent of the participants were dog owners and only 75 percent of these seniors would daily take their dogs out for walk.

The subjects who walked their dogs wore accelerometer that recorded their physical movements. It was seen that the physical activity levels in this group of participants was equal to that of people who were ten years younger. In addition, the seniors also experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression.

"Our results suggest that dog ownership may motivate personal activity and enable older people to overcome many potential barriers such as lack of social support, inclement weather and concerns over personal safety," said Zhiqiang Feng, study author and senior lecturer at the School of Geography and Geosciences at the University of St Andrews in a news release.

The authors urge older people to regularly take walks with their pets to improve their mental statuses and physical health. For those who don't own dogs, pet-loaning or usage of nudging devices that mimic dog-owner relationship not only keeps them engaged but also averts risk of illnesses caused by inactivity.

"Our study is especially relevant in our increasingly ageing society and it is never too late for sedentary older people to take up exercise. However, effective intervention schemes in promoting and increasing physical activity still remain a global public health challenge," adds Feng.

More information is available online in the journal Preventative Medicine.