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.

LINKS TO STUDY: Unavailable

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

SUBMITTED BY: Stephanie Walker

Parental Depression After Childbirth

AUTHOR: Rick Nauert, PhD

PUBLICATION NAME: Psych Central

PUBLICATION DATE: September 8, 2010

SUMMARY: A study in the UK suggests that many parents develop depression within the first year of their child's birth. More than thirty percent of mothers and around twenty percent of fathers were shown to experience an episode of depression, the biggest risk being within the one year time span after their child was born.

The depression rates were unsurprising, due to the stress associated with a baby - i.e; lack of sleep, more responsibility, and pressure on each of the parents. The rates could also be due to the continuation of anti-depressant use after taking a break during the pregnancy and nursing periods.

The authors add that “There is a well-established link between depression and social and economic deprivation both in the general population and among parents. This finding may reflect the stresses of poverty, unemployment, low employment grade and lower social support among people of lower socioeconomic status”.

Depression in mothers and fathers was identified with diagnostic codes and pharmacy record. All in all, 19,286 mothers surveyed had a total of 25,176 episodes of depression and 8,012 fathers had a total of 9,683 episodes of depression.

Based on the findings, researches have concluded that there should be awareness among clinicians of the risk factors of depression in parents and immediate detection of depression is crucial. Authors also say that in the future, other factors for depression should come into play during research, such as the couple's relationship and stressful life situations.

LINKS TO STUDY: none

ARTICLE: Parental Depression After Childbirth

SUBMITTED BY: Kimberly Truong