Topic: International Federation on Ageing

The International Federation on Ageing has published Companion Animals and the Health of Older Persons, a report described as the most extensive literature review to date of research undertaken in the field of companion animals and the health of older people, made possible through an educational sponsorship from Bayer Healthcare.

The report provides a comprehensive literature review into the ways pets contribute to the physical and mental health of individuals and the well-being of our broader society, citing studies which found:

• companion animals are associated with increased self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive moods and lower levels of loneliness (El-Alayli et al, 2006). 
• quiet company between humans and pet dogs has been observed to lower the person's blood pressure and increase the levels of neurochemicals linked to relaxation and bonding (Filan and Llewelyn-Jones, 2006). 
• pets can ameliorate bereavement for older people (Raina et al, 1999; Garrity et al, 1989; Bolin, 1987). 
• half of all dog owners (and just under half of pet owners in general) confirm that they meet people in their neighbourhood as a result of their pet and more than 80 percent of dog owners talk to other people when out walking their dogs (Wood et al,2005) 
• a marked reduction in agitation and aggression in human dementia patients treated with Animal-Assisted Therapy (various studies).
• an increase in pro-social behaviour such as alertness, increased frequency of touch, verbalisation and smiles amongst dementia patients in residential programs. Each of these behaviours was observed to improve over time (Perkins et al, 2008). 
• pet owners access health services via their GP approximately 10% less than non-pet owners (Headey and Grabka, 2003) 
• estimated cost savings to the health care system attributed to companion animals in 2000 of 5.59 billion Euros in Germany and $3.86 billion in Australia. 

Dr Jane Barratt from the International Federation on Ageing said: "This field of research has important implications across generations and also for the future of our broader society. Many studies have broadly discussed how pets, such as dogs and cats, contribute to health by reducing anxiety, loneliness and depression, but until today, have not yet been published in a single resource. This new report advances our understanding of the value of companion animals in the framework of human health and the broader society."

In the report, investigators acknowledge that the current data on human-companion animal interactions are often predicated on anecdotal evidence and scant qualitative and quantitative data, with poorly-constructed and poorly-controlled study design. This may account in part for the conflicting results found in a number of different studies. Nonetheless, they argue that based on current evidence of considerable positive potential for the health of older individuals, and the associated health and welfare benefits for local communities and societies, more research time and energy should be directed towards this area of research. In particular, they say, there should be much greater involvement from veterinary surgeons, who are well placed to be consulted in studies of companion animals and older people’s attachment, affection and bonding capacities, well-being and social capital.

Ferenc Polz, Head of Bayer Animal Health said: "The therapeutic benefit of companion animals is an area of study attracting increasing interest among health and social science professionals and this sponsored report is yet another example of the life changing potential of human and animal relationships."