The research team of Associate Professor Kazutaka Mogi of the Department of Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University utilized the large-scale epidemiological survey "Tokyo Teen Cohort *" on mental health during adolescence conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science and others. , We are conducting research to elucidate the mechanism by which humans live in harmony with dogs and promote health.Furthermore, we aim to search for bacteria that are effective in promoting human mental health.Research to elucidate the promotion of human health by such a method can be said to be an advanced research effort that is unprecedented even for domestic universities.
In the "Tokyo Teen Cohort Study" conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, about 370 children are extracted from the participants in parallel with the questionnaire survey, and more detailed questionnaires and health checks are conducted at the institute. We are conducting a visit-type follow-up survey.The research team also participated here, taking a more detailed questionnaire on animal rearing and sampling saliva and skin bacterial flora from the child.Currently, ongoing research shows that boys with dog breeding experience have better results in withdrawal, anxiety, depression, aggression, etc. than non-breeding boys, boys aged 10-12 years. It has become clear that breeding dogs in early childhood has a positive effect on mental health.
In addition, based on the long history of symbiosis with dogs for more than 1 years, the research team found that the indigenous bacterial flora of dogs and humans is easy to interact with each other even though they are heterogeneous. Presumed to be likely to affect mental health.We aim to identify useful nomad bacterial flora that propagate from dogs to humans and to elucidate the mechanism of health promotion, especially in mental health.Furthermore, in the future, we will work on the development of appropriate and efficient exposure assessment methods for animal symbiosis that will become the standard in cohort studies.
The results of this research were reported at the international symposium of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Private University Research Branding Project held on July 2019, 7.
* The Tokyo Teen Cohort Study is aimed at children (10, 12, 14 years old) living in Setagaya Ward, Chofu City, and Mitaka City and their caregivers (mainly mothers), and is related to their daily lives and health. Conducted a questionnaire survey.From the questionnaire survey, various psychological measures such as social problems, thinking problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior, anxiety / depression, and withdrawal of each child are quantified.We are investigating how these are affected by dog breeding (breed, breeding history, breeding style, etc.).
