Many studies utilizing dogs, cats, birds, fish, and robotic simulations of animals have tried to ascertain the health benefits of pet ownership or animal-assisted therapy in the elderly. Several small unblinded investigations outlined improvements in behavior in demented persons given treatment in the presence of animals. Studies piloting the use of animals in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia have yielded mixed results. Animals may provide intangible benefits to the mental health of older persons, such as relief social isolation and boredom, but these have not been formally studied. Several investigations of the effect of pets on physical health suggest animals can lower blood pressure, and dogwalkers partake in more physical activity. Dog walking, in epidemiological studies and few preliminary trials, is associated with lower complication risk among patients with cardiovascular disease. Pets may also have harms: they may be expensive to care for, and their owners are more likely to fall. Theoretically, zoonotic infections and bites can occur, but how often this occurs in the context of pet ownership or animal-assisted therapy is unknown. Despite the poor methodological quality of pet research after decades of study, pet ownership and animal-assisted therapy are likely to continue due to positive subjective feelings many people have toward animals.

Abstract
 서 론
 연구 방법
 결 과
  1. 노인의 정신 건강에 동물이 주는 이점
  2. 노인의 신체 건강에 동물이 주는 이점
  3. 노인에게 동물이 주는 이점과 위험 요소
 고 찰
 참고 문헌

• 김옥진(원광대학교 대학원 동물매개심리치료학과, 원광대학교 동물자원개발연구센터) | Okjin Kim (Graduate School of Animal-assisted Psychotherapy, Wonkwang University, Center for Animal Resource Development Research, Wonkwang University) Corresponding author