Animals as medicine: Purdue Nursing researcher connects nature to care for older adults

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu 

An older woman smiles holding a small black pug.

People of all ages rely on their pets for a serotonin boost, whether they’re throwing a ball for their dog, petting their cat or talking to their fish after a long day. Nancy Edwards, professor and head of the Purdue University School of Nursing, has always been interested in the ways people interact with animals and nature, having been surrounded by animals all her life. Combining her love of animals with her expertise in care for older adults and those with dementia, she has led countless studies as part of the College of Health and Human Sciences to investigate how animals and nature can influence older individuals’ health.  

Specifically, Edwards is interested in answering the question: How can we improve health outcomes for older adults and individuals with dementia without using chemicals? The answer can often be found in the human-animal bond

“We’ve done a lot with utilizing the environment,” Edwards said. “How do you alter the environment —whether it be with aquariums, with robotic dogs, that type of thing — so people don’t necessarily need to be medicated?” 

Nancy Edwards

Edwards, who has a courtesy appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, has worked closely with professor emeritus Alan Beck to dig deeper into how the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans can improve health outcomes, from nutrition to behavior to socialization. 

“(The College of Veterinary Medicine) is concentrating on animal health, and we’re concentrating human health,” Edwards said. “Although we don’t think we do, we depend on each other. We know animals depend on humans, but humans also depend on animals. We have to coexist, and if we can coexist and help each other, that is one of the best things.” 

One of Edwards’ most influential series of studies in this area investigated the effects of aquariums on the behavior and nutrition of individuals with dementia. She noted individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia often will lose interest in things quickly, drifting from task to task. This often has consequences on their nutritional intake. When aquariums are introduced in the facilities, however, Edwards explained they found a “couch potato”-like effect on these individuals. When they were captivated by watching the fish tank, the patients would eat much more of their meals, reducing their need for meal supplementation and improving overall health outcomes.  

Likewise, Edwards said they found the aquariums reduced disruptive behaviors and improved socialization among patients struggling with dementia. She recalls one patient, who had become nonverbal, finding words to inquire about the fish in the tank — an impressive development in understanding the influence animals can have, even for individuals who are mentally compromised. 

“I think it’s interesting that our interaction with nature is intact even in dementia,” Edwards said. “Even in individuals who have severe dementia, they’re wanting to interact with animals — it has an impact that goes beyond dementia. Someone could be very confused, but if you put them in a tranquil environment or give them an animal, they still interact. Our interaction with nature never goes away. I tend to use the animals, but people also use aviaries or walking in the woods, things like that.” 

Beyond dementia, Edwards, in collaboration with Beck, has also looked into the use of robotic dogs as a source of companionship for individuals in assisted living facilities when human-to-live animal interactions may not be as feasible. The researchers found the robotic dog companions increased social interactions among people in the facility as well as between family members who came to visit their loved ones. The older adults gave the robotic dog personal characteristics, which gave it the pet-like ability to be a focal point that broke down social barriers among people, reducing overall loneliness. Edwards mentioned this mental boost also helped with physical ailments in some cases, as she saw one older woman who experienced back pain get down on the ground, unprompted, to interact with the robotic dog. 

“It’s amazing what animals can do for people,” Edwards said. “Animals give people a lot of meaning.” 

While the animals have a significant influence on people, Edwards noted the veterinary component is important as well, as introducing animals to a facility that treats patients struggling with dementia can be stressful for animals. Additionally, at times, animals are at risk for being overfed or not getting enough exercise in assisted living facilities. Because of this, it’s important to ensure that both groups are benefiting from the interaction. 

“When you’re looking at the combination, that’s where you have to really look at animal health too,” Edwards said. “You have to be careful with these animals in institutions, that they stay healthy, are getting exercise and that people aren’t ‘over-loving’ them.” 

Currently, Edwards is expanding her work through a study focused on uncovering lunar effects on the behavior of individuals with dementia — an area the researchers stumbled upon in their work with aquariums that’s becoming increasingly looked at in research and covered by media

“It just brings up a whole realm of interaction with nature,” said Edwards, noting that animals are just one level of a One Health approach toward science. 

Edwards intends to continue her work with animals in the future, with plans to investigate animals’ influence on grieving individuals as well as how pets influence institutional care decisions. 

“Ultimately, we’re looking at interventions that we could do that save money for health care organizations and increase quality of life, and you don’t use medications or chemicals,” Edwards said. “It’s all natural.” 


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