Good News in Science: Dog & Cat Ownership Boosts Brain Health

    

Just one more reason to love our furry friends.

Finally, some good news: researchers have linked dog and cat ownership to healthier cognitive functioning in late life. In fact, this news isn’t brand new: scientists have known for years that interactions with pets support healthy brains. For example, in a 2022 article entitled “Pet ownership is associated with greater cognitive and brain health in a cross-sectional sample across the adult lifespan,” authors McDonough et al. found that “pet ownership, especially dog ownership, may play a role in enhancing cognitive performance across the adult lifespan, which could in turn influence protection against age-related cognitive decline.”

This year’s research findings are perhaps not so surprising: an article in Scientific Reports by Rostekova et al. found that “Dog and cat ownership was associated with slower cognitive decline compared to no pet ownership; bird and fish ownership showed no such association.”

Not to say that birds and fish don’t provide worthy companionship or well-being benefits, but it’s dogs and cats who have the capacity to help their owners stay mentally sharper for longer. In fact, the authors of the first study make the rather astounding statement that “owning a pet can reduce one’s brain age by up to 15 years.” 

What’s so powerful about the effect that dogs and cats have on their owners, especially as those owners enter late life? Adriana Rostekova, lead author of the more recent article, hypothesizes that perhaps the social stimulation provided by dogs, in particular, but also cats, helps stave off cognitive decline. She added that it’s “possible that interaction with dogs and cats provides unique cognitive stimulation, which may be less pronounced in other, less demanding pets” like birds and fish. 

When continuing care communities and hospitals offer animal-assisted activities or therapy, they support residents’ happiness, social interaction, and physical movement. These findings suggest that animal visits also support cognitive function, including memory and verbal fluency. Truly, whatever these pets are getting paid, it’s not enough.

Tips for New Senior Dog Owners

There are so many reasons to enjoy life with a dog. For older adults who are currently dog-less and considering inviting a pooch into their lives, here are some factors to consider for a smooth transition.

• Energy level & size: Choose a breed or mixed breed whose exercise needs match your lifestyle. Lower-energy dogs or smaller breeds may be easier to manage. Senior living experts recommend breeds like cocker spaniels, shih tzus, or French bulldogs.
• Age of the dog: Puppies require training and lots of energy, while older dogs may be calmer and already house-trained.
• Health & mobility: Consider your own mobility and to what degree you can handle walking, bending, or lifting. Also consider who’s around to assist you with dog care, and what their interest and availability is for helping on a day-to-day basis or as a dogsitter.
• Finances: Factor in costs for food, vet visits, grooming, and emergencies. Talk to friends and family to decide if pet insurance would be a good choice. 
• Living situation: Check pet policies if you live in senior housing or an apartment, and consider whether there’s outdoor space nearby that’s safe and accessible for both you and the pup.

Tips for New Senior Cat Owners

You’ll be fine. 

Just kidding–adopting a cat is still a big decision, but it’s common knowledge that cat care is lighter than dog care on the whole. That may make a cat a better choice for some seniors. In addition to the considerations above, consider a new cat’s temperament. Cats’ personalities vary widely: some are lap cats, others are more, shall we say, independent. Choose one that matches your lifestyle. In terms of space, cats adapt well to apartments and smaller homes, but they still need room for scratching posts, perches, and toys.

It’s a beautiful thing that dogs and cats help us see and remember the world clearly as we grow older. Keep doing whatever you’re doing, little guys: we love you for it. 

Additional sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/05/dog-cat-ownership-could-preserve-specific-brain-functions-as-we-age-cognitive-decline 

https://eldercarealliance.org/blog/the-7-best-dog-breeds-for-seniors/ 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Medicare Annual Enrollment: Updates & Important Reminders

   

Use this month to review the mixed bag of changes to Medicare coming in 2026 and update your elections by December 7.

This year, Medicare turns 60, and a record 4.18 million Americans turn 65. Almost all Americans over 65 use Medicare, and the majority rely on it as their primary insurance. With some significant changes to Medicare coverage coming this year, just about everybody in this age bracket will want to take some time to consider their coverage, starting this month.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. If you’re already enrolled in Medicare, you can make changes to your plan now. It’s always good to consider your options during this period, since Medicare plans have changed, and your own health needs may have changed, as well. If you make any changes during this Open Enrollment Period, they’ll go into effect January 1, 2026.

For unbiased help choosing the right Medicare plans for you, contact your Medicare broker or your state’s SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Here are some recent developments to discuss with them.

Medicare Prescription Payment Plans Will Automatically Re-enroll

This year, there’s no need to re-enroll in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP): if you had this plan in 2025, it will automatically carry over to 2026 unless you make a change. The MPPP is a free plan available to anyone with drug coverage under Medicare, whether with Medicare Part D or an Advantage plan. Instead of paying in a lump sum at the pharmacy for medications, MPPP enrollees will receive a bill monthly, along with their premium bill. Spreading out the cost of medications over the calendar year helps individuals keep up with payments and avoid sticker shock at the pharmacy.

Medicare Advantage Plans May Make Cuts to Coverage

Enrollees whose benefits include Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) should be aware of new restrictions on these benefits. Examples of benefits that CMS has deemed non-health related and that will not be covered include: cannabis, life insurance, unhealthy food, and cosmetic procedures.

In addition, the Congressional Budget Office predicts an overall 4% cut in Medicare payments to hospitals between 2026 and 2034 due to the budget reconciliation bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) passed by Congress in May. Medicare Advantage plan providers and hospitals will start looking now for ways to cut costs and maximize savings.

Medicare Savings Program Ease of Enrollment Will Vary By State

The same bill pushed back to 2035 updates to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which would have streamlined enrollment in the program. As a result, an estimated 1.38 million low-income Americans (with incomes at or below 135% of the federal poverty level) will no longer be able to pay the gaps in prescription coverage that the MSP helped them afford. Researchers estimate 18,200 preventable deaths per year as a result of this rollback. Since MSP is administered by states, states can still act to reduce barriers to enrollment in the program. 

CMS Will Use AI to Expand Pre-authorization Under Original Medicare

This year, six states–New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington–will adopt the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. For now, this pilot program will focus on evaluating eligibility for coverage of specific procedures like knee surgery, outpatient spinal injections, and certain categories of prosthetics and other medical equipment. Patients with Traditional Medicare in the six states who request these kinds of care will have their requests reviewed first by private AI companies and then by a clinician, according to CMS. While CMS says they intend the WISeR Model to eventually reduce Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse across the country, other experts worry that “the combined influence of automated screening and financial incentives may lead to clinically unjustified denials of care.” This is a shift, as WISeR will be applied under Original Medicare, while prior authorization has historically been required only under Medicare Advantage plans. 

The takeaway for enrollees in 2026? If you live in one of the six states, be aware of which procedures are now subject to the WISeR Method, as their approval rates will be less predictable this year. And in 2027, keep an eye on the expansion of this model to other states and more kinds of care.

There’s also good news regarding prior authorization: new CMS regulations prohibit Medicare Advantage insurers from withdrawing prior authorization for care except in cases of obvious waste or fraud. According to Christine M. Clements, JD, a managed care law specialist, in Medscape News, “plans cannot use additional clinical information that might be available after they make their decision to reopen a coverage decision” unless the new information points to an obvious error in the original diagnosis. This is good news for both patients and providers.

If you consider all the changes and decide that your current plan will work just fine for 2026, you don’t need to take any action during this year’s Annual Enrollment Period. Your existing plan will continue on January 1. 

Additional sources:

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/medicare-60-care-cost-control-2025a1000jg1 

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/04/older-adults-health-coverage.html 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-us-has-reached-the-peak-of-peak-65-its-time-to-apply-retirement-readiness-lessons-from-the-boomer-experience-302360086.html 

https://www.humana.com/medicare/medicare-resources/medicare-open-enrollment 

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan 

https://www.ftj.com/senior-insurance/articles/medicare-updates-2026

https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/medicare-changes-coming-in-2026

https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2025/07/cms-is-getting-wiser-about-medicare-waste-but-at-what-cost-to-providers 

https://medicare.chir.georgetown.edu/new-cms-wiser-model-revives-concerns-of-prior-authorization-and-artificial-intelligence/ 

https://health.usnews.com/medicare/articles/how-medicare-might-change-for-2026

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/08/07/medicare-rights-experts-highlight-the-value-and-impact-of-medicare-savings-programs 

https://www.kff.org/medicare/tracking-the-medicare-provisions-in-the-2025-budget-bill/ 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

  

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

October 1

This American actress, daughter of a celebrated character actor, trained at both Hofstra University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. On TV, she made her debut in the long-running soap Guiding Light before delivering a memorable guest turn in 1990 as a Starfleet officer during one of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s most dramatic cliffhangers. In 2023, she reprised the role in Star Trek: Picard. Her screen credits stretch across popular series such as Seinfeld, Charmed, Without a Trace, and Masters of Sex, as well as films like Gattaca, Clear and Present Danger, Soldier, and Red Dragon. Last year, she appeared in Horizon: An American Saga–Chapter 1, a Western produced by Kevin Costner. Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

October 18

This Belgian-born martial artist and actor rose to fame in the late eighties and nineties as one of Hollywood’s premier action stars. His martial arts prowess, honed since age ten, featured in films like Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, and Timecop and earned him the nickname “The Muscles from Brussels.” Beyond his film career, he’s also directed, produced, and later poked fun at his own persona in projects like JCVD, a dark comedy in which he played a satirical version of himself. Most recently, he appeared earlier this year in the French action comedy The Gardener. Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

October 24

This American screen, voice, and stage actor appeared in several well-loved nineties classics. As Dr. Henry Wu in the original Jurassic Park, he asked Dr. Ian Malcolm: “You're implying that a group composed entirely of female animals will...breed?” prompting the famous reply, “No. I'm, I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way.” He also played the voice of Captain Shang in Disney’s Mulan and has a long TV resume with roles including the forensic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: SVU, the conflicted Father Ray Mukada on Oz, and hacker-turned-mastermind Whiterose on Mr. Robot, which earned him an Emmy nomination. But his first breakthrough role was on Broadway with M. Butterfly, where he earned a Tony Award.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Source:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us