Want to feel 10 years youngerIJ Own a dog! Pets not only keep you active they can also make you feel and act younger, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of St Andrews found that dog owners over the age of 65 act 10 years younger than their biological age.
The study, led by Dr Zhiqiang Feng also found that owning a dog can also have a beneficial effect on an elderly person’s mental health. Previous studies have looked at the positive benefits of pet ownership on the elderly, with dog owners being shown to have fewer symptoms of depression and decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. However, this is the first study to look properly at levels of physical activity in the over 65 group.
“It is well known that pet ownership may help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression in older people, but one area that has received little attention is the effect of dog ownership on the physical activity levels of the elderly,” Feng said.