Animal-Assisted Interventions Involving Live and Robotic Animals for Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness, and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
In brief
Animal-assisted therapy reduces depression by ~0.5 SD and improves cognition in older adults
A meta-analysis of 20 trials found that programs with live or robotic animals lowered depressive symptom scores by roughly half a standard deviation and raised cognitive test scores by about three-quarters of a standard deviation compared with usual care. Effects on anxiety and loneliness were not seen, and the overall evidence quality was low, highlighting the need for larger, rigorous studies.
- Journal
- Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (Q1)
- Published
- 18 August 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review / meta-analysis of RCTs
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1a)
- Authors
- Jiaxin Lv, Zhong Li, Rixin Qin, Beibei Miao, Ling Gong, Changping Song, et al.
- PMID
- 42612612
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jamda.2026.106367
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Psychiatry and Mental Health (top studies of the week, 23 August 2026): Animal‑assisted interventions for depression in older adults
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in improving depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and cognitive function in older adults. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Six databases were searched from inception to January 4, 2026. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were included. Pooled intervention effects were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses, publication bias, subgroup analyses, and methodological quality (Risk of Bias 2 and Joanna Briggs Institute) were assessed. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: Twenty studies, including 16 randomized controlled trials and 4 quasi-experimental studies, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that AAIs have a moderate and statistically significant effect on improving depressive symptoms (SMD, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.22; Z = 3.90; P < .001) and cognitive function (SMD, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.12-1.31; Z = 2.36; P = .018) in older adults, compared with the control group. Larger effects on depressive symptoms were observed in interventions involving live animals, quasi-experimental study designs, and intervention durations of 6 to 12 weeks. In contrast, no significant pooled effects were identified for anxiety symptoms or loneliness. The certainty of evidence was rated as low for depressive symptoms, very low for anxiety symptoms, low to very low for loneliness, and low to very low for cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: AAIs are associated with significant improvements in depressive symptoms and cognitive function in older adults. No significant pooled effects were found for anxiety or loneliness. These findings support AAIs as a promising complementary approach for depression and cognitive support in later life, while underscoring the need for larger, well-designed multicenter trials to strengthen the evidence base.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.