Psychology
Publication Date
Summer 2026
Document Type
Paper
Faculty Sponsor
Alena Esposito
Major
Psychology
Abstract
As individuals age, they often experience gradual declines in cognitive abilities that ultimately affect their quality of life and independence. Severe cognitive decline is not necessarily a natural or universal part of the aging process and tends to be exacerbated by various neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease (Colita et al., 2024). There have been promising outcomes of animal assisted interventions in improving the conditions of several populations and spaces, including educational, rehabilitative, and therapeutic settings. Animal assisted therapy specifically is delivered by a qualified or licensed health professional. Previous research has shown a large benefit in long-term memory, verbal and non-verbal communication, and sensory stimulation in Alzheimer’s patients being treated with animal assisted therapies (Jones et al., 2019). Animal assisted therapy should be utilized alongside other pharmacologies or psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy to ensure holistic treatment.
Keywords
alzheimer's, animal assisted interventions, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, animal assisted therapy
Recommended Citation
Bachu, Preeti, "Animal Assisted Interventions for Older Adults Experiencing Cognitive Impairment" (2026). Psychology. 1.
https://commons.clarku.edu/undergraduate_psychology/1
Worcester
No
Rights
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
