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Review
. 2021 Sep 13;11(3):198-206.
doi: 10.1159/000518469. eCollection 2021 Sep-Dec.

Effects of Pet Therapy in Elderly Patients with Neurocognitive Disorders: A Brief Review

Chiara Sbrizzi  1 , Walter Sapuppo  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Pet Therapy in Elderly Patients with Neurocognitive Disorders: A Brief Review

Chiara Sbrizzi et al. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. .

Abstract

Introduction: Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are disturbances highly related to age. This means that, with the increasing trend in life expectancy, there is also an increase in this diagnosis, although NCDs are not exclusively found in the population over 65 years old. Likely, they will increase in the coming years together with improvements in diagnosis. In addition to the use of medicines and rehabilitative techniques, pet therapy is also used. Pet therapy makes use of animals with therapeutic, rehabilitative, educational, and recreational purposes for people affected by physical, neuromotor, and psychiatric disorders. Pet therapy seems to be functional for increasing social and communication competencies, facilitating verbal and body language, increasing self-esteem, improving quality of life, and reducing anxiety/stress.

Methods: This study was based on scientific papers and publications obtained from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Moreover, other articles from further cross-references were included. Specific database research criteria were (a) articles published in 2018 or later, (b) samples containing only adults over 65 years old, (c) written in English or Italian, and (d) on the topic of animal-assisted intervention.

Results: Uncertain results were obtained. Although a positive effect was found, the included articles were of insufficient methodological rigor.

Discussion/conclusion: Although many studies reported positive results, these could not be generalized because of the numerous biases present (e.g., small sample size, lack of methodological rigor, lack of protocol, etc.). Future studies, therefore, should seek to address the limitations found in the analyzed studies.

Keywords: Alzheimer; Anima-assisted intervention; Geriatric; Neurocognitive disorder; Pet therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Fig. 1
PRISMA: Search and selection guidelines flow chart.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of the countries where the studies were conducted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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