January 10th

By Mutt Mulligan

Study: Kids with pets less likely to have psychiatric disorders as adults

Scientists in Maryland have discovered that exposure to household dogs in childhood leads to a reduced risk of schizophrenia later in life. The researchers studied 396 individuals with schizophrenia, 381 with bipolar and 594 controls. They investigated the relationship between exposure to a household dog during the first 12 years of life and having a subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The results? Exposure to a household pet dog was associated with a significantly decreased hazard of having a subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia. Additionally, a significant decreased risk of schizophrenia was detected following exposure at birth and during the first years of life.

This is just one of the many benefits of having a dog. To learn more, check out this TurfMutt blog post. For more about the health and wellbeing benefits of the living landscape, go to TurfMutt.com.