Owning dog or cat could preserve some brain functions as we age, study says

Dog owners were found to retain sharper memory, both immediate and delayed, while cat owners showed slower decline in verbal fluency. Photograph: GlobalP/Getty Images/iStockphoto

As global population ages and dementia rates climb, scientists may have found an unexpected ally in the fight against cognitive decline.

Cats and dogs may be exercising more than just your patience: they could be keeping parts of your brain ticking over too. In a potential breakthrough for preventive health, researchers have found that owning a four-pawed friend is linked to slower cognitive decline by potentially preserving specific brain functions as we grow older.