BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

Eotvos Lornd University sought to study different therapies on aging in in humans using dogs. It is projected that 30% of people will be over the age of 65 by the year 2050. Exercise and mental stimulation are proven to improve and lengthen quality of life. To answer the question of whether the physical or mental is more effective, the ethologists developed a program to study the effects of mental, physical or combined therapy on older dogs. 

Dogs are a useful population to study the effects of aging on humans as they age in much the same way only faster. In humans, cognitive activities only direct improvement in certain specified areas, but physical activity helps more generally. Researchers invited owners with dogs aged 8 or older to participate in the study. Dogs with other health conditions were not qualified for the study. There was a total of 84 participants in the study. 

The researchers divided the study participants into 4 groups. One group was given a set of mentally challenging tasks and interactive games. The second group was led by a physiotherapist and challenged the dogs’ motor skills. A third group underwent a combination of mental and physical challenges. The fourth group was not subjected to any training other than the initial and final evaluations.   

Dogs undergoing physical exercises regularly were more flexible and outgoing. Dogs that were challenged cognitively were more likely to seek new experiences and were less afraid. The younger dogs around 8 years of age seemed to respond more strongly to therapy than older dogs. 

The initial and final test consisted of twelve tasks that measured memory, learning and problem-solving. Dogs that received therapy were more engaged in their environment. Those that underwent physical or a combination of physical and mental challenges were more resilient and friendlier. Dogs that had lower baseline performance scores on the initial test improved with therapy. 

Researchers concluded that combined therapy was not more effective than mental or physical therapies alone. However, dogs in general responded much better with therapy than without any intervention. 

According to one researcher, “our results confirm that older dogs also need to work.” Exercise, whether physical or mental can slow the aging process and improve overall wellbeing. The act of exercising the dogs also improved the bond between dog and owner. 

According to the findings, performing just one hour of therapy weekly can improve mental performance. Daily exercise (mentally and physically) can be even more helpful and, if started at a younger age, can dramatically improve the aging process. 

More information: Zsófia Bognár et al, The behavioral effect of short-term cognitive and physical intervention therapies in old dogs, GeroScience (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01122-2