New study offers better understanding of cognitive aging in dogs

Photo: Baldomero Jesús Espinosa Megias/Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock

A research team at the Arizona Cognition Center, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine in Tucson, developed a new evaluation tool for monitoring the health of aging dogs. This new research provides a deeper understanding of cognitive aging in dogs, according to a news release.¹

Led by Evan MacLean, PhD, the team developed a series of short, pet-friendly tasks to measure spatial memory, executive function, and social cognition, all of which are impaired in Alzheimer’s disease.^1,2 This neuropsychological assessment was achieved through 2 research experiments.

"Understanding cognitive aging in dogs has the potential to advance veterinary medicine and support discoveries that translate to human health," said MacLean in a news release.¹ "Unlike other diseases, we cannot simply perform a blood test or use medical imaging to measure cognitive impairments. Our research produced problem-solving games to measure specific aspects of cognitive function, providing a vital tool for monitoring cognitive health and measuring the effectiveness of interventions to promote healthy aging."

The first experiment

The first experiment tested a cross-sectional sample of dogs and estimated associations between age and task performance.¹ The dogs participated in 5 tasks over 2 sessions on different days. Each session lasted around 30 to 60 minutes.

The first session involved 2 memory tasks and a sensory screen. Meanwhile, the second session measured executive function with a cylinder task and a spatial reverse task. It also measured social human interaction with an unfamiliar experimenter.²

According to the study, each task involved a handler who set the dog in a starting position and timed the trials, along with an experimenter who conducted the test and collected data. Additionally, with the exception of the human interaction task, all tasks required participants to engage in spontaneous problem-solving to obtain food rewards.

The second experiment

In the second experiment, researchers showed the feasibility of the tests carried out in the first experiment in clinical settings. This involved 35 dogs being evaluated for cognitive dysfunction. The study’s staff conducted the cognitive tests in an exam room during research visits, which took place when clients brought their dogs to the veterinary hospital for medical check-ups.^1,2

Findings

The relationship between age and test performance was similar for small and large dogs, despite the fact that small dogs generally have longer lifespans.¹ The unexpected result prompts further questions about whether cognitive aging follows a different path than other age-related conditions.¹

Memory and mental flexibility showed a significant correlation with age, with older dogs scoring notably lower than younger ones. Additionally, signs of cognitive decline were detected in mid-life, well before the usual onset of dementia in canines. According to a news release, recognizing these early signs of impairment could be essential for interventions to prolong cognitive health.¹

The study received funding from the Dogtopia Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, the research was carried out as part of the Dog Aging Project—a nationwide initiative aimed at uncovering the genetic and environmental factors that influence healthy aging in dogs.

Although cognitive decline and dementia are increasingly recognized as major concerns for aging dogs, studying these issues has been difficult due to the lack of objective, pet-friendly methods for assessing cognitive function. The newly developed tests will play a vital role in research focused on evaluating interventions that can improve cognitive health and help prevent dementia in dogs, according to Dogtopia.¹

References

1. New study uncovers key findings on cognitive aging in dogs. News release. Dogtopia. September 24, 2024. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-uncovers-key-findings-on-cognitive-aging-in-dogs-302256528.html
2. Hargrave SH, Bray EE, McGrath S, et al. Characterizing dog cognitive aging using spontaneous problem-solving measures: Development of a battery of tests from the Dog Aging Project. GeroScience. Published online August 6, 2024. doi:10.1007/s11357-024-01278-x