Over 55 million people worldwide are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It is a disease that puts strain on both the person suffering from it, but also those around them. But there could be hope for better understand this disease, and it comes from an unexpected place.
A team of researchers analysed 24 pet dogs, aged 8 and older. In each of these dogs, they were looking at whether changes in their brains resembled those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
This was done in two stages. The first was while the dogs were alive, assessing their cognitive health. The second was after they died, examining their brains for changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
While they were alive, owners completed cognitive assessments about their behaviour, helping the researchers better understand any signs of canine cognitive dysfunction.
They also collected blood samples to look into biomarkers, including a protein associated with changes to brain-supporting cells.
On death, the dog's brains were collected, and post-mortems were conducted on each dog (with the owner’s consent of course). Six different brain regions were examined.
Using the results from their life and post-death, the researchers could better understand why Alzheimer’s-related proteins accumulate in the brain, and whether those changes are linked to cognitive decline.
While humans and dogs aren’t exactly the same, and both will experience brain diseases differently, studies of this kind help humans to understand the disease better.
A progressive brain disorder, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. It can destroy memory, thinking skills and our general ability to complete daily tasks.
It has long been believed that the way dogs experience Alzheimer’s can help us to understand it better in humans too.
