What is the effect of pets on dementia?

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Natalia Balan, director of nursing homes, reported that people over the age of 65 who own a dog are 40 percent less likely to develop dementia.

Balan points out that owning and caring for a pet - a dog, for example, helps maintain physical and intellectual activity. Because its owner leaves the house periodically every day to go for a walk with him, during which he communicates with other people.

But with cats, it is different because, according to them, the risk of developing cognitive impairment increases.

She says: “Toxoplasma gondii is an adhesive parasite found in cats. As a general rule, it is transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, and lack of attention to personal hygiene. The incidence of toxoplasmosis in the world is 35 percent. This parasite affects the functioning of the brain, as it penetrates The central nervous system affects neurotransmitters, which leads to a change in the affected person’s behavior and may cause a mental disorder.”

According to her, this parasite has a particularly negative impact on the health of the elderly - causing loss of muscle mass, depression, and impaired cognitive functions that may later develop into dementia.