Therapy dogs are a standard method of improving the mental state of both mature people and one with mental problems. The most common disorder for which therapy dogs are effective is depression. It is due to the fact that when caring for a dog or spending time with them, a person diverts the center of attention from their experiences to another object, namely a dog (Lundqvist, 2020). Consequently, one does not have enough time to concentrate on their experiences. However, therapy dogs are also widely used to improve the situation of the elderly. Usually, therapy pets are used in nursing homes, however, getting a dog home will also be beneficial for the elderly. Animals positively affect several aspects of a person’s life, namely mood, immune system, stress levels, and physical condition.
Primarily, therapy dogs are an effective intervention for the elderly as they improve the level of the immune system. As a result, a person fights the disease more effectively or becomes more robust to other conditions. Improving the immune system occurs due to the release of happiness hormones while playing with animals and during walks (Lundqvist, 2020). In addition, on a psychological level, dogs reduce stress levels, which also leads to improved immunity and mental state.
Moreover, for patients with memory problems, dogs are used to memorize exercises and perform them. It helps improve memory processes and strengthen neural connections, fighting diagnoses such as dementia more effectively. However, dogs are only allowed into nursing homes once every few days, which is a disadvantage. At the same time, it instantly takes one out of the daily routine and gives the person positive emotions.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of therapy dogs lies in some of the qualities that animals possess. Thus, dogs, similarly to humans, are characterized by emotionality, sounds, facial expressions, reactions to human communication signals, and the ability to express their feelings through actions. Dogs quickly learn commands and willingly obey them, which argues for effectiveness in the rehabilitation of patients with motor and speech disorders. In addition, tactile interaction with the therapy dog plays a significant role, for which dogs with a specific type of psyche are selected. Therapy dogs are used for older visually impaired patients, increasing interest in exploring the world and socializing.
Talking about the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, it is worth noting that there is a difference in the principle of these disorders. Thus, dementia occurs as a result of severe disorders of brain activity, which can be caused by various illnesses. At the same time, Alzheimer’s disease is a severe neurological disorder of the brain that causes the development of dementia.
The causes of vascular dementia can be a heart attack, stroke, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and other factors. Dementia can occur as a result of an acute process or gradually develop due to slow blood circulation in the brain. With physical activity, constant training of the mind, and a healthy lifestyle, the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease is reduced. In addition, the presence of stressful situations, emotional state, heredity, and environmental situation affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Unlike dementia, Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages is not manifested by hallucinations, sleep disturbance, and increased muscle tone. At the same time, dementia is characterized by impaired coordination, motor function, and spasmodic gaps in memory. In Alzheimer’s disease, memory impairment develops gradually, and in the later stages, there is a complete loss of memory. It is worth noting that with dementia, the patient has a speech disorder and a personality change in the early stages of the pathology. Dementia accompanies Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and life expectancy in dementia is shorter than in Alzheimer’s disease.
Nowadays, two types of intellect are defined in psychology, namely, fluid and crystallized ones. Fluid intelligence includes the ability to think and solve new problems, regardless of previous experience (Kaufman, 2018). Due to logic, a person with a high level of fluid intelligence is able to find relationships and patterns and analyze new problems. In addition, it allows the individual to extrapolate the found relationships from the structures that underlie new problems. Fluid intelligence includes deduction and induction, abstract thinking, and high working memory. It is useful in logical problem-solving, such as in mathematical, scientific, or technical fields.
At the same time, crystallized intelligence utilizes opposite principles, which are based on past experiences. These include the ability to apply previous skills, knowledge, and experience to the current situation (Kaufman, 2018).
Crystallized intelligence relies on taking information from long-term memory, unlike fluid intelligence. It includes separate neural and psychological processes that demonstrate the depth of general knowledge, vocabulary, and ability to think. Motor intelligence, as a rule, correlates with indicators of abstract thinking and solving puzzles. Crystallized intelligence correlates with abilities that depend on knowledge and experience, such as vocabulary, general information, and analogies. Motor intelligence, like reaction time, tends to peak at a young age and then gradually decline. This decrease may be associated with local brain atrophy in the right hemisphere.
References
Kaufman, A. S. (2018). Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues. Guilford Publications.
Lundqvist, M. (2020). Health technology assessment of assistance dogs and dog-assisted interventions. Linköping University Electronic Press.