NC State Enrolls 100th Dog in Aging Study, Expanding Alzheimer’s and Canine Disease Research
Updated
Updated · cvm.ncsu.edu · Jun 12
NC State Enrolls 100th Dog in Aging Study, Expanding Alzheimer’s and Canine Disease Research
1 articles · Updated · cvm.ncsu.edu · Jun 12
Summary
Mallie and Malayla Bartos became dogs No. 99 and 100 in NC State’s longitudinal canine aging study, a milestone for the project launched by Dr. Natasha Olby in 2018.
100 enrolled dogs have helped researchers build tests tracking cognition, mobility, sensory function and other nervous-system changes, creating a model for how dogs age well or poorly.
Every 6 months, owners bring dogs in for three-day visits and complete detailed questionnaires, letting the team link biobank samples to each dog’s condition at that point in time.
The study has already produced a biobank and database supporting collaborations on chronic kidney disease and lipids, while also underpinning three new studies or trials now starting.
Findings from the dog cohort could aid treatment of age-related decline in pets and inform human aging and Alzheimer’s research through comparable measures of cognitive decline.
If dogs are our closest model for aging, what can their healthspan teach us about our own future?
As research extends pet lifespans, are we prepared for the new ethical questions of geriatric animal care?
NC State’s Canine Aging Study Hits 100 Dogs: New Insights Into Alzheimer’s and Healthy Aging
Overview
North Carolina State University has reached a major milestone by enrolling its 100th dog in a long-term study that began in 2018, aiming to understand how aging affects dogs’ brains. This research tracks changes in behavior, cognition, and biology over time, using regular assessments and sample collection. The study focuses on canine cognitive dysfunction, a condition similar to human Alzheimer’s disease, making the findings valuable for both veterinary and human medicine. By studying these changes in dogs, researchers hope to discover new ways to diagnose and treat age-related cognitive decline in both species.