If you live alone, getting a pet can slow cognitive decline

Interesting UK cohort study: Pet Ownership, Living Alone, and Cognitive Decline Among Adults 50 Years and Older.

It found that pet ownership is linked to slower decline in "composite verbal cognition (a combined score for memory and word production), memory, and word fluency" (credo summary).

There was only a difference for people who lived alone. I.e. if you live with other humans, having a pet wasn't associated with better outcomes. But among those living alone, those with pets were better off.

Another reason to get a pet!