Researchers found dog owners tended to live longer - and the link was strongest for the people you might least expect: those living alone.

Key Points:

• Two 2019 studies published in the American Heart Association journal found that dog ownership is associated with a lower risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular causes, with a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality observed in a meta-analysis of over 3.8 million people.
• Among heart attack or stroke survivors aged 40 to 85, dog ownership was linked to a 33% lower risk of death for those living alone, suggesting that the benefits may be greater for socially isolated individuals.
• The potential reasons for this association include increased physical activity from dog walking and reduced social isolation through interactions prompted by dog ownership, though the studies cannot establish causation.
• Experts caution that these observational studies do not prove that owning a dog directly causes longer survival, as healthier or more socially connected individuals might be more likely to own dogs.
• Individuals with cardiovascular illness or those considering pet ownership should consult healthcare professionals, as dog ownership decisions and addressing loneliness require personalized medical advice beyond observational research findings.