PI: Greg Pietsch, DVM
Key Personnel: Hoshi Sugiura, BS
Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans and canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) in dogs share striking biological and symptomatic similarities impacting the quality of life, including the lack of a cure or effective treatment. Both diseases develop before noticeable symptoms appear, impact the sense of smell (anosmia), and involve brain volume loss, particularly in the hippocampus, which is directly linked to cognitive decline in AD. Because of these similarities, dogs with CCD serve as a natural model for AD. Furthermore, brain phospho-tau levels are elevated in both conditions, and plasma P-tau shows promise as an AD biomarker. This research aims to establish CCD as a platform for testing new AD and other dementia treatments. Specifically, this study will investigate the incidence of CCD in Interior Alaskan dogs and track symptom progression over three months including behavioral changes, results from anosmia tests, and measuring hippocampal volume changes using MRI imaging before and after the three-month study period. This study was awarded a grant from NeuroNascent Inc., a biotech company developing novel therapies for CCD in older dogs with potential application to improve outcomes for patients with chronic neurogenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
