Organization: Baltimore Research and Education Foundation
Investigator(s): Heidi Ortmeyer
Grant Amount: $27,500.00
Project Type: Phase 1
Project Status: Research Complete
In a Baltimore Research and Education Foundation feasibility study in older Veterans with physical limitations and mental health issues, the study found that fostering a companion dog for two months significantly increased the Veterans' daily physical activity and had a positive impact on their quality of life. A sub-study validated the Actigraph accelerometry monitor, the most widely and extensively validated device for measuring physical activity in humans, for use in dogs. In a second sub-study, the interconnection between foster dogs and their older caregivers was examined. Results showed that the caregivers' stress decreased, and heart rate variability (HRV) increased when near their dog (a marker of emotional and physical health). HRV was also related in the caregiver and their dog, suggesting an interconnection.
The objectives of the project were: (a) to establish a non-invasive method to measure the effects of minute-to-minute proximity on hear rate variability that could lead to better understanding of the interconnection and mutual benefits between human and dogs; (b) provide opportunities for engagement in healthy-aging activities for older adults, and (c) help save lives of homeless dogs through established rescue group foster programs.
In testing Veterans as Foster Ambassadors at the VA Maryland Health Care System, participants wore an accelerometer for > 10 days during each phase (30-day baseline vs. 60-day foster period) to measure daily physical activity. For sub-study #1, pulse and HRV data generated from the PetPace Collar and Actigraph Link accelerometer were examined in 11 freely moving dogs in a foster caretaker environment over 10-15 days, and graphed for analysis in relation to activity, position, distance and signal presence as predictors of physiological response in individual dogs during sedentary bouts.
In sub-study #2, 11 dog caregivers, ages 56-83, wore Actigraph accelerometers and Actiheart monitors; 11 dogs wore PetPace Collars and ActiGraph monitors, all to determine effects of closeness between foster dogs and their caregivers, as measured by dogs' health outcomes, humans' health outcomes and the interconnection between the human and dog.
Results from the feasibility study provide evidence that fostering a companion dog can improve physical activity, health and quality of life in older veterans. Results for sub-study #1 suggest that combining data collected from Actigraph accelerometers and Pet Pace monitors will provide useful information, both collectively and individually, on dogs' physiological responses in various positions and in proximity to their human caretaker.
Results from sub-study #2 support the hypothesis that spending time near a companion dog increases caregivers' HRV throughout the day, which may contribute to overall improvements in cardiac health in dog caregivers.