Owning a pet can protect people from memory loss.
A cat
New research has shown that the owners of animals including dogs, cats and rabbits were discovered to have maintained more of their cognitive abilities.
Researchers tested more than 1,300 people with an average of 65 and found that long-term pet owners saw less of a decline in their memory compared to do those who do not have them.
Dr. Tiffany Braley, who led the study for The University of Michigan Medical Centre, said: "Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress.
"Our results suggest pet ownership may also be protective against cognitive decline."
Dr. Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer's UK, believes that more research needs to be completed before linking pet ownership with memory loss.
She said: "While this US-based study linked owning a pet with some protection in memory and thinking decline, it can't tell us if these are long-term benefits, or whether owning a pet has any bearing on dementia risk."