ReviewJournal of animal science and technology2026
A review of animal-assisted therapy for older adults in Korea: effects on depression and cognitive function and implications for practice.
Review in Journal of animal science and technology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
This review aimed to identify effective animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs for older adults and to evaluate their practical and policy applications by analyzing assessment tools for depression and cognitive function. Korea became a super-aged society in 2025, with individuals aged 65 years and older accounting for more than 20% of the population. Mental health problems, including cognitive decline, depression, and dementia, have emerged as major social challenges. In response, AAT is increasingly used as a preventive and therapeutic intervention. Canine-assisted AAT reduced depression by promoting emotional bonding, social interaction, and physical activity. It also enhanced emotional stability by increasing oxytocin levels. In addition, AAT improved cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and language ability, even in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Assessment tools including the mini-mental state examination, montreal cognitive assessment, Addenbrooke's cognitive examination III, and geriatric depression scale-Korean version have been widely used to measure these changes. Overall, AAT is an effective non-pharmacological intervention that improves cognitive, emotional, and social functions in older adults. Therefore, these findings support its preventive and clinical applications.
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