Black dog owners may have better memories
Own a pet for five years or more? Cognitive skills may improve for all
African-American pet owners may be in for an even bigger treat than having a four-legged, warm, friendly companion. It turns out black seniors can have a significant brain boost in cognitive skills, and their longtime pets (five years or more) may be the ones to credit.
First author Jennifer Applebaum, a sociology doctoral candidate and National Institute of Health predoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, confirmed that there needs to be more research done from the Health and Retirement study regarding why this cognitive boost in black people (ages 50 and over) was so much more prominent. (Their prior studies were dominated by white women participants.) However, pets have been widely credited in other studies for helping to guard against high blood pressure, obesity and a reduction in stress.
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Another highlight from the study was this pet perk didn’t just come from cats or dogs. Pet owners with significant cognitive improvements were also the owners of birds, fish, hamsters, rabbits and reptiles.
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