Can Old Dogs Get Alzheimer's Disease?

AUTHOR: Stanley Coren, Ph.D

PUBLICATION NAME: Psychology Today

DATE OF PUBLICATION: September 13, 2010

SUMMARY: No one knows exactly why either dogs or humans decline in their abilities as they age, but one theory is that as DNA is copied into new cells, the copies get less and less accurate. Damage to the DNA may also come from natural radiation, or wear and tear or a combination of all three. Damaged DNA due to natural radiation leads to faulty enzyme production that then leads to the death of cells in the nervous system. It has been found that old dog’s brains are up to 25% lighter than younger dog’s brains do to loss of nerve cells and branches. In addition, chemical changes occur in the dog’s brain do to aging. These same things happen to people as they get older. In dogs and humans, the mitochondria become less efficient, leaking free radicals that interrupt normal cell activity. In autopsies, it is apparent that with age both dogs and humans naturally get lesions of the starch-like protein beta amyloid. This lesion clogs the brain and inhibits signals from the brain. In addition, some dogs get the same degenerative brain lesions that humans with Alzheimer’s Disease do. As tissue degenerates, protein deposits called amyloids accumulate in the brain. High levels of these amyloids in combination with clusters of dead or dying nerve cells are an indication that the individual is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. In dogs, this is called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. These dogs show similar symptoms as humans with Alzheimer’s Disease. These symptoms can be summed up as disorientation, interaction changes, sleep changes, and house soiling.

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ARTICLE: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201009/can-old-dogs-get-alzheimer-s-disease

SUBMITTED BY: Stephanie Walker