After reviewing nine international studies, researchers have found what many dog owners and nursing home staff had already believed.  Dog-assisted therapy improves degenerative symptoms related to dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

The therapy involves a therapist and a trained dog spending time with a small group of residents from a facility such as a nursing home.

“Contact with a dog increased social behavior, improved mood, improved quality of life and also increased the patient’s reported health, so the benefits are important ones.  And given we are facing an explosion in rates of dementia as the population ages, we need all the more ways to help improve life for dementia patients,” said  Dr Jacqueline Perkins, from the Australasian Centre on Ageing at the University of Queensland.  Dr. Perkins was the lead researcher for the study.

According to Dr. Perkins, other methods, such as drug treatments, music therapy, light therapy, cognitive therapy and aromatherapy, have seen limited success.

Smaller dog breeds often called “toy” breeds seem to get the best response.

“Just feeding, petting and playing with the dog improved their social interaction, reduced agitation and had other benefits too, like reducing the burden on carers,” Dr. Perkins said.

“And for many they remember dogs they’ve had in the past and they’re able to re-live those happy memories and share them with other people.”

Source: news.smh.com.au

Photo:  www.therapydogsonline.com

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