The new study from Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies studied around 11,000 residents aged 65 or older at Tokyo’s Ota Ward over a four-year span.

Yu Taniguchi, a senior researcher specialising in geriatrics at the institute, found that dog owners were 40% less likely to develop dementia than those who didn't own dogs.

In a separate study conducted over two years, it was found that dog owners were also 20% less likely to become frail.

As for cat owners, Taniguchi didn’t find any correlation between the animal and a significant decline in risk or frailty.

Taniguchi believes that this is likely due to the individual needs of each animal respectively.

While cats require little maintenance, dog owners must walk their pets, which promotes physical activity and creates opportunities for social engagement. These factors help prevent social isolation, a known contributor to poor health.

"Walking dogs seems to lower the risk of dementia and frailty through regular exercise. Cats, while previous research shows benefits for mental health, likely provide less physical activity," Taniguchi explained

"The health and longevity benefits come not just from living with a dog, but from staying physically and socially engaged through loving care," Taniguchi concluded.