Dog ownership and dementia risk reduction, the science and interpretation

Dog Ownership in Older Adults Reduces Dementia Risk by 40%?

A recent large epidemiologic study in Japan found that older adults who owned dogs had an odds ratio of 0.60, or about 40% lower risk of developing dementia compared to older adults who did not own dogs. The study was a prospective cohort study that followed 11,194 people aged 65 to 84 years living in Ota City, Tokyo, for four years, a design that is strong for estimating causality among observational studies17.

Controlling for confounders and scientific interpretation

To better estimate the causal relationship between dog ownership and dementia risk, the researchers statistically adjusted for a variety of confounders, including participants' age, gender, health status, and social isolation. To do so, they utilized propensity score weighting to create a comparison structure that closely resembles an experimental study1.

Dogs vs. cats: The difference in effect

There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of dementia among cat owners (odds ratio 0.98). Increased physical activity, such as walking, and greater social interaction have been suggested as possible reasons for the effect of dog ownership. Cats, on the other hand, may have less of a physical activity or social interaction effect17.

Accuracy of interpreting odds ratios

While the phrase “40% reduced risk of dementia” is often used in the media, odds ratios compare the ratio of odds (odds of occurrence/odds of non-occurrence), not risk. Thus, an odds ratio of 0.60 means that the odds of developing dementia in dog owners is 60% of that in non-dog owners. Risk reduction and odds reduction are not the same thing and should be interpreted with caution3.

Evidence-based medicine and environmental implications

This study suggests that pet ownership may have a positive impact on cognitive health in older adults. However, it should be critically interpreted in light of the limitations of observational studies and the impact of confounding variables. Evidence-based medicine emphasizes the process of considering scientific evidence along with clinical experience and patient values to make optimal decisions568.

In a cohort study that followed 11,194 older adults aged 65 to 84 years in Ota City, Tokyo, Japan, for 4 years, dog owners had an odds ratio of 0.60, or about 40% lower risk of developing dementia than non-dog owners17.

Cat ownership was not statistically significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia (odds ratio 0. 98)17.

The study was observational and used propensity score weighting to control for confounders (socioeconomic status, health status, etc.)1.

The protective effect of dog ownership may be associated with increased physical activity, such as walking, and reduced social isolation17.

The odds ratio compares the ratio of the probability of occurrence to the probability of non-occurrence, not the ratio of risk, so the interpretation of “40% risk reduction” is not strictly correct3.

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an approach to making clinical decisions that considers the best available evidence, clinical experience, and patient values together, and epidemiologic studies provide an important basis for EBM568.

FAQ: Pet ownership, dementia risk, and epidemiologic studies

Q1. Does dog ownership really reduce the risk of dementia by 40%?

The study found an odds ratio of 0.60 for dementia in dog owners, but this does not mean “40% reduced risk of dementia”; it means that the odds of developing dementia are 60% compared to those who do not own a dog. Risk and odds are not the same thing, so be wary of simplistic interpretations in the media137.

Q2. Are cats protective against dementia?

In this study, there was no statistically significant difference between cat ownership and dementia risk17.

Q3. Why does dog ownership lower the risk of dementia?

Owning a dog increases physical activity, such as walking, and reduces social isolation through interaction with neighbors. Both factors may be positive for maintaining cognitive function and preventing dementia17.

Q4. What is a confounder in an observational study?

A confounder is an external factor that exists among the population being studied that may affect the outcome (the occurrence of dementia). For example, people who own dogs may be in better health or more socially active, and these differences may be confounded with the true effect1.

Q5. What is the relationship between evidence-based medicine (EBM) and epidemiology?

EBM is an approach to decision-making that combines the best scientific evidence with clinical experience and patient values. Epidemiologic studies provide an important source of evidence in EBM, and critical evaluation of study design and limitations is key568.

#dementia

#evidencebasedmedicine

#epidemiologicresearch

#environmentalhealth

#scientificinterpretation

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