Study: Children exposed to dogs less likely to develop schizophrenia as adults

Exposure to dogs from an early is linked to a reduced risk of developing schizophrenia - as much as 24% - later in life, according to a US-based research study from John Hopkins Children Centre in Washington.

Robert Yolken, MD from John Hopkins Children Centre and primary researcher on study told ncies and journal that: "Serious psychiatric disorders have been associated with alterations in immune system linked to environmental exposures in early life, and since household pets are often among first things with which children have close contact, it was logical for us to explore possibilities of a connection between two."

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sample of  study consisted of 1371 people from Baltimore, USA, between range of 18 and 65 -- out of which 396 suffered from schizophrenia, 381 with bipolar and 594 were mentally fit, all of whom were screened for any psychiatric condition. participants were asked wher y owned cats or dogs before of 12 in next step.

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findings revealed that ones who were exposed to dogs before 13 were 24% less likely of getting diagsed with schizophrenia as ults. However, empirical evidence could be found with dogs’ effect on bipolar disorder. effects of a cat in reducing mental conditions in people was t clearly established eir. 

A cat or a dog can strengn immune system of a young child plausible to hereditary schizophrenia through allergic reactions and microbe exposure apart from influencing changes in a person’s affective and neurochemistry.

Yolken explained that " largest apparent protective effect was found for children who h a household pet dog at birth or were first exposed after birth but before 3." 

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He furr ded, “re are several plausible explanations for this possible ‘protective’ effect from contact with dogs — perhaps something in canine microbiome that gets passed to humans and bolsters immune system against or subdues a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.”

(With Inputs from ANI)