For this reason, we here discuss the literature on different cognitive functions that decline during aging, signs of cognitive dysfunction, screening methods for age-related cognitive decline, and different interventions used in pet dogs. Most research on cognitive aging in dogs has focused on the translational approaches to human aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) for a review] however, understanding normal cognitive aging in pet dogs and screening cognitively affected dogs are of utmost importance from a practical perspective. Paradoxically, less is known about the changes associated with aging than the aging process itself. While most dog owners are informed about the physiological changes associated with aging, including changes in body composition, metabolic processes, and sensory abilities, many are not aware of the behavioral and cognitive changes associated with increasing age that may or may not result in severe cognitive dysfunction. Recent animal demographic studies have shown that the population of old dogs is increasing, as is the incidence of degenerative changes associated with aging.
Modern advances in technology, health care, and nutrition have led to a significant increase in the average life span of humans and animals. Regarding preventive measures, we conclude that combinations of dietary intervention and behavioral enrichment may be more beneficial than single-pathway manipulations in delaying cognitive aging or retaining various cognitive functions during aging.Īging is a multifactorial process that leads to a decline in the functions of most organs and tissues. We suggest that multi-targeted approaches that combine owner-evaluated questionnaires with neuropsychological tests can be most effective in screening cognitively affected dogs from normally aging dogs. Moreover, we discuss the drawbacks of using questionnaires as subjective measures of aging and propose the development of objective methods to distinguish normal cognitive aging from severe cognitive dysfunction. Here we review the literature on different cognitive functions that decline during aging, signs of cognitive dysfunction, screening methods, and preventive measures for age-related cognitive decline.
Most reviews on cognitive aging in dogs have focused on translational approaches to human Alzheimer's disease from a practical perspective, however, understanding normal cognitive aging in pet dogs and screening cognitively affected dogs are important in their own right. Although dog owners tend to consider many physiological and behavioral changes in old dogs as part of the normal aging process, it is important to differentiate between normal aging and pathologic aging, since behavioral changes may be the first indication of declining health and welfare in old dogs. A decline in the physical or mental health of older dogs can be a challenge for the owners, whose relationship with their dog is compromised by the cognitive and behavioral changes in their dogs.
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