The Brain-Boosting Power of Pets: Why Companionship Matters as You Age

From purring comfort to cognitive resilience — How your furry friends may help safeguard your brain as you age

I’ve been around pets for as long as I can remember.

My maternal grandparents had a guinea pig named Jules and a cat called Micky, who, frankly, was a bit of an ah.

Growing up, I had three dogs: Ringo (#1), Ringo (#2), and Choupette. There was also Titi, the turtle. Then came the cats, Saphir and Malaïka stand out, but also Mozart (yes, we named him that), and eventually my grandmother’s cat, who came to live with us after she passed.

And then there was Mademoiselle Louise.

Losing her in December 2020 kind of broke me, and my dad. She had to be put down, she had a Chiari-like malformation (CM) like so many Cavaliers King Charles Spaniels. Since then, I haven’t been able to bring myself to adopt another. I just can’t.

Because we all know how it begins, but more painfully, we know how it ends.

And right now, I’m not sure I can go through that again.

Though, if I’m honest, I know I probably will.

Mademoiselle Louise

Because it always starts with a tail wag, a purr, or a pair of eyes that seem to say, You’re my human, this is meant to be.

For many of us in midlife, especially those living alone for the first time in years, those quiet, ordinary moments with a pet are anything but trivial. They’re anchors. Micro-rituals. Silent affirmations that we’re still needed, still connected, still loved.

But beyond the comfort and companionship, there’s a deeper question: Can having a pet actually protect our brains as we age?

Yes! Powerfully so.

Recent research is catching up with what pet owners have long sensed: the presence of animals is profoundly regulating for the nervous system, and that matters more than ever as we age.

Let’s see why.

1. Pets soothe the stress response (and that saves your brain)

Chronically elevated cortisol can shrink the hippocampus, the brain’s memory and learning centre. But studies show interacting with animals lowers cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate, sometimes faster than human company does (who’s shocked?).

Your dog’s presence isn’t just comforting, it may be ever so slightly buffering your brain against inflammation and decline.

2. Pets spark cognitive resilience through routine and novelty

Feeding schedules, daily walks, playtime? Caring for a pet adds cognitive structure. I witnessed that firsthand when my dad lived with Mademoiselle Louise. He was her everything, she was his everything. Routine anchors the brain, especially when the rest of life feels in flux.

But beyond structure, pets introduce novelty. A new walking route, a surprise vet visit, a random behavioural quirk, these stimulate the brain’s default mode and salience networks, both crucial for long-term cognitive health.

3. Pets combat loneliness (and that’s not just emotional)

Loneliness is now a recognised health risk, as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to the WHO. For people in midlife, especially those in urban settings, it’s a silent epidemic.

Pets act as attachment figures. They offer co-regulation, non-verbal connection, and the kind of social interaction that activates the same reward centres in the brain as conversations with loved ones.

Anyone who’s ever walked a dog around the neighbourhood knows: you end up meeting every pet and remembering their names long before you learn anything about their humans.

Pets aren’t a replacement for human connection. Even though I do think so sometimes, and you know you do too.

But when that connection is missing, they can serve as a powerful neurobiological buffer.

4. Pet ownership may delay cognitive decline, especially if it’s long-term

A 2022 study published in The Journal of Aging and Health followed older adults over six years and found those who had pets for more than five years showed slower rates of cognitive decline, particularly in episodic memory and executive function.

A gentle caveat

Pet ownership isn’t for everyone though. It’s a relationship, not a lifestyle accessory. If the logistics don’t align, consider pet-sitting, volunteering at shelters, or fostering.

You still reap many of the neurological and emotional benefits, without the long-term responsibility.

Takeaway

Whether you’re newly solo or simply craving connection in a world that can feel increasingly transactional, a pet isn’t just emotional support. It’s brain support.

They won’t reverse time. But they may slow its effects.

They won’t speak your language. But they just might save your mind.

In your Third Act, who you surround yourself with, human or not, matters more than ever.

So if you needed a sign to say yes to that rescue cat or start dog-walking on weekends?

Here it is.

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