PhD, Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
PhD, Department of Biochemistry, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Clin Ter. 2024 Sep-Oct;175(5):362-369. doi: 10.7417/CT.2024.5126.
In recent years, the size of geriatric population seems to have grown larger than that of younger children and is expected to grow even larger in few years from now. As older individuals are more vulnerable to health concerns and loneliness, it is necessary to focus on providing them opportunities for healthy ageing. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has emerged as one of the simple yet effective approach to enhance physical, psychological, and social well-being in older adults.
This review article presents collective information from various experiments on AAT's effectiveness in promoting healthy ageing.
The physiological impacts of AAT, on cardiovascular health, mobility, and day to day activities have been discussed. The psychological benefits of AAT, such as improvement of mood, cognition, and alleviation of anxiety, loneliness, and depression, are explored. This review also presents the possible mechanisms underlying the effective-ness of AAT, such as release of oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins, which contribute to emotional well-being along with reduction of stress. The human-animal bond established during AAT sessions is discussed as a significant factor in promoting positive outcomes. Challenges faced and limitations involved in employing therapy animals within ageing populations are also discussed.
Avenues for future research and potential applications of AAT in diverse healthcare settings are proposed, emphasizing the need for further empirical investigation to fully elucidate the mechanisms and benefits of AAT for healthy ageing. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to highlight the potential of AAT as a holistic intervention to enhance the well-being of older adults, providing valuable insights for healthcare practitioners, researchers, and policymakers invested in promoting healthy ageing strategies.
近年来，老年人口的规模似乎比年幼的儿童还要大，而且预计在未来几年内还会更大。由于老年人更容易受到健康问题和孤独感的影响，因此有必要关注为他们提供健康老龄化的机会。动物辅助疗法（AAT）已成为增强老年人身心健康的一种简单而有效的方法之一。
本文综述了各种关于 AAT 促进健康老龄化的有效性的实验的集体信息。
讨论了 AAT 对心血管健康、流动性和日常活动的生理影响。探讨了 AAT 的心理益处，如改善情绪、认知和减轻焦虑、孤独和抑郁。这篇综述还介绍了 AAT 有效性的可能机制，例如催产素、多巴胺和内啡肽的释放，这些机制有助于情绪健康，同时减轻压力。讨论了在 AAT 疗程中建立的人与动物之间的联系，这是促进积极结果的重要因素。还讨论了在老年人群体中使用治疗性动物所面临的挑战和限制。
提出了在不同医疗保健环境中进一步研究和应用 AAT 的途径，强调需要进一步进行实证研究，以充分阐明 AAT 对健康老龄化的机制和益处。通过本次全面综述，我们旨在强调 AAT 作为一种整体干预措施，以增强老年人福祉的潜力，为关注促进健康老龄化策略的医疗保健从业者、研究人员和政策制定者提供有价值的见解。
