Why you SHOULD teach an old dog new tricks: It protects your pet from dementia, research suggests
- The study looked at the brain structures of 43 middle-aged beagles over three years
- During that time, dogs were engaged in ‘free play’ and exercised daily
- Scientists found that cognition increases by an average of 1.74% annually
- READ MORE: Scientists find a new type of dog training
Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows how difficult it is to watch it grow old.
But researchers have now found that social enrichment can benefit the brains of older dogs – suggesting that teaching an old dog new tricks really is a good idea.
Scientists used MRI scans to measure changes in the brain structure of 43 middle-aged beagles over three years.
During this time, the dogs received daily exercise, played with a variety of toys and were allowed to ‘play freely’ with other dogs for 30 minutes a day.
Analysis revealed that the volume of the hippocampus – the brain region linked to cognition – increased at an average rate of 1.74 percent per year in all dogs.
Analysis revealed that the volume of the hippocampus – the brain region linked to cognition – increased at an average rate of 1.74 percent per year in all dogs
This was in contrast to previous studies in beagles, which found that the volume of this part of the brain usually decreases over time.
The researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of California published their findings in The Journal of Neuroscience.
They said their discovery suggests that, even for middle-aged dogs, social enrichment may be beneficial for their brain health.
“Remarkably, the hippocampus increased in volume in all dogs,” they wrote.
‘We argue that these increases can be attributed to the high levels of behavioral enrichment in the current study, including social interaction, exploration, exercise and sensory stimulation – all of which are known to induce a number of neurobiological changes.
‘We can therefore conclude that adopting a dog and providing it with a loving home even in middle age can improve its lifespan and benefit its health in old age.
“There’s no harm in taking this as a helpful pet care tip…playing with your dogs can be beneficial for their brain health.”
The researchers added that age-related brain changes and cognitive decline are similar between dogs and humans.
Older owners may therefore also see benefits in playing with their dogs.