The surprising impact dogs have on your child's health

When talking about the relationship between dogs and children, we talk about a special emotional connection that contributes to both sides. A new study suggests there is a relationship between a dog's presence in the child's early years and a lower risk of suffering from schizophrenia later in life

Friendship that pays off between humans and dogs. Children and dogs (Photo: shutterstock)

Illustration (Photo: ShutterStock)

Even if you are not "dog people", you have probably heard not once and twice about the benefits of raising a child alongside a wagging friend in the tail. Now a new study shows that raising children alongside a dog may reduce the risk of schizophrenia by up to 24 percent. Surprisingly, and perhaps not, such a relationship was not found when it came to cats.

The lead author of the study, Professor Robert Yulken, director of the Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery Laboratory, said: "We have found that exposure to the family dog ​​at birth or before 3 is associated with a lower incidence of schizophrenia compared to people who have not experienced this exposure.

Mental Health Day: We must talk about schizophrenia

What is the reason for this? The researchers do not yet know this. First, the study simply surveyed about 1,400 men and women who owned pets, dogs and cats. This does not prove that dogs directly reduce the risk of suffering from schizophrenia. It is also unclear whether any potential benefit comes from the relationship between the young child and a person's best friend, or how dogs may affect the child's immune system.

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Professor Yulken said "one explanation is that families raising dogs as pets are different from families without pets - or with pets - in some way related to different rates of schizophrenia." This means that there can be differences related to where the dogs live, the type of food the dogs receive, their family income or educational background, or a number of other factors related to their lifestyle. "The dog may also have a positive emotional impact on children," he noted.

"In addition, some of the canine microbiome - beneficial microorganisms housed in healthy dogs - may be delivered to the baby, and these organisms provide some form of protection against schizophrenia development later in life," Professor Yulken added.

An incurable chronic illness. Schizophrenia (illustration: ShutterStock)

Schizophrenia, illustration (Photo: ShutterStock)

Chronic illness without cure

Schizophrenia is a common name for a number of psychotic disorders that result from a split, or a separation, between emotional and thinking functions, or cognition. It is a chronic incurable disease, and according to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia is one of the 10 most restrictive diseases in developed countries. It breaks down in one percent of the population, usually at young ages (15-45), and harms both men and women, regardless of race.

In this study, published in the latest issue of PLOS One, researchers focused on previous dog and cat ownership among 1,371 people in Baltimore ages 18 to 65. Those who lived with a pet during their childhood were then divided into four groups by their age when the pet was present: birth to age 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12.

No protective relationship was found between exposure to a dog in youth and a lower risk of bipolar disorder, or ownership of cats and one of the diseases. But the researchers found that having a dog at home before the age of 13 was associated with a significantly lower risk of schizophrenia. The biggest benefit was for those who had a dog before the age of 3.

Dogs reduce stress, anxiety, depression and alleviate loneliness. Dog (Photo: ShutterStock)

Dog hugging the owner's hand (Photo: ShutterStock)

"Recent studies have shown that dogs reduce stress, anxiety, depression, alleviate loneliness, encourage physical activity and improve people's overall health," said Dr. Alan Manevitz, a New York-based clinical psychiatrist from Knox Hill, Webmed.

Dr. Timothy Sullivan, chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at New York University's Staten Island Hospital, added: "Exposure to dogs in infancy also helps reduce the later incidence of allergies and asthma." "According to him, the evidence also suggests that exposure to dogs produces a slight level of stress that helps infants develop adequate coping mechanisms for managing anxiety and threat." In addition, people with dogs tend to suffer from lower blood pressure and lower risk of heart disease.

"Only playing with dogs has been shown to increase oxytocin and dopamine, creating positive feelings and attachment to a person and their pet," Dr. Sullivan said. Jolken says that this study only illustrates association and requires further research.