Strategies for improving cognition with aging: insights from a longitudinal study of antioxidant and behavioral enrichment in canines

Christie, Lori-Ann; Opii, Wycliffe O.; Head, Elizabeth

doi:10.1007/s11357-008-9063-2

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…There is little information available regarding the influence of vitamin supplementation on subsequent health in dogs. However, in humans and dogs supplementation with a combination of the antioxidants vitamin C and E led to improved cognition and promoted healthy brain aging ( 84 , 85 ), and in the case of the dogs health was improved especially when antioxidant supplementation was combined with behavioral enrichment. Additionally, antioxidants can decrease inflammation and oxidative stress and increase antioxidant capacity in dogs with osteoarthritis ( 86 ); thus, helping to provide proof of the benefits of vitamin supplementation on health in dogs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic Change Across the Lifespan of Pet Dogs and Their Impact on Health Status

et al. 2018

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Although dogs' life expectancies are six to twelve times shorter than that of humans, the demographics (e. g., living conditions) of dogs can still change considerably with aging, similarly to humans. Despite the fact that the dog is a particularly good model for human healthspan, and the number of aged dogs in the population is growing in parallel with aged humans, there has been few previous attempts to describe demographic changes statistically. We utilized an on-line questionnaire to examine the link between the age and health of the dog, and owner and dog demographics in a cross-sectional Hungarian sample. Results from univariate analyses revealed that 20 of the 27 demographic variables measured differed significantly between six dog age groups. Our results revealed that pure breed dogs suffered from health problems at a younger age, and may die at an earlier age than mixed breeds. The oldest dog group (>12 years) consisted of fewer pure breeds than mixed breeds and the mixed breeds sample was on average older than the pure breed sample. Old dogs were classified more frequently as unhealthy, less often had a “normal” body condition score, and more often received medication and supplements. They were also more often male, neutered, suffered health problems (such as sensory, joint, and/or tooth problems), received less activity/interaction/training with the owner, and were more likely to have experienced one or more traumatic events. Surprisingly, the youngest age group contained more pure breeds, were more often fed raw meat, and had owners aged under 29 years, reflecting new trends among younger owners. The high prevalence of dogs that had experienced one or more traumatic events in their lifetime (over 40% of the sample), indicates that welfare and health could be improved by informing owners of the greatest risk factors of trauma, and providing interventions to reduce their impact. Experiencing multiple life events such as spending time in a shelter, changing owners, traumatic injury/prolonged disease/surgery, getting lost, and changes in family structure increased the likelihood that owners reported that their dogs currently show behavioral signs that they attribute to the previous trauma.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic Change Across the Lifespan of Pet Dogs and Their Impact on Health Status

et al. 2018

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“…Yet even combinatorial antioxidants may not attain sufficient concentration within the central nervous system in order to exert therapeutic efficacy in neuronal cytosol [Polidori et al, 2004]. The selection of antioxidants used in this study was determined, in part, from efficacy studies in a canine model for brain aging [Christie et al, 2009]. In the canine studies, treatment with an antioxidant enriched diet resulted in improved cognitive functioning within 2 weeks, an improvement that was sustained over the 2 years course of study [Milgram et al, 2005].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An antioxidant diet consisting of cellular antioxidants (alpha‐tocopherol and ascorbic acid, fruits and vegetables) along with mitochondrial cofactors (alpha‐lipoic acid and L ‐carnitine) resulted in improved cognitive ability and evidence for maintenance of cognition over a 2‐year period of time [Head et al, 2002; Milgram et al, 2005]. In parallel, antioxidant‐treated dogs showed improved mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative damage [Opii et al, 2008; Christie et al, 2009] and interestingly, reduced amyloid plaque loads [Pop et al, 2010]. However, lipoic acid, while decreasing oxidative stress markers in mice overexpressing APP, did not result in cognitive improvement or a reduction in endpoint beta‐amyloid load [Siedlak et al, 2009].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Down syndrome and dementia: A randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation

Lott

Doran

Nguyen

et al. 2011

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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121

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Individuals with Down syndrome over age 40 years are at risk for developing dementia of the Alzheimer type and have evidence for chronic oxidative stress. There is a paucity of treatment trials for dementia in Down syndrome in comparison to Alzheimer disease in the general (non-Down syndrome) population. This 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed whether daily oral antioxidant supplementation (900 IU of alpha-tocopherol, 200 mg of ascorbic acid and 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid) was effective, safe and tolerable for 53 individuals with Down syndrome and dementia. The outcome measures comprised a battery of neuropsychological assessments administered at baseline and every 6 months. Compared to the placebo group, those individuals receiving the antioxidant supplement showed neither an improvement in cognitive functioning nor a stabilization of cognitive decline. Mean plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol increased ~2-fold in the treatment group and were consistently higher than the placebo group over the treatment period. Pill counts indicated good compliance with the regimen. No serious adverse events attributed to the treatment were noted. We conclude that antioxidant supplementation is safe, though ineffective as a treatment for dementia in individuals with Down syndrome and Alzheimer type dementia. Our findings are similar to studies of antioxidant supplementation in Alzheimer disease in the general population. The feasibility of carrying out a clinical trial for dementia in Down syndrome is demonstrated.

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“…In addition, behavioral enrichment decreases β‐amyloid load in several brain regions of aging laboratory beagle dogs and protects against cognitive decline associated with aging (Christie et al . ; Cotman & Head ; Pop et al . ).…”

Section: Challenges Of a Canid Model For Behavioral Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, small bouts of environmental enrichment have important genetic effects on developing mice (Arai & Feig 2010). In addition, behavioral enrichment decreases β-amyloid load in several brain regions of aging laboratory beagle dogs and protects against cognitive decline associated with aging (Christie et al 2009;Cotman & Head 2008;Pop et al 2010). In considering the possible implications of these results for the human case, however, it is not clear to what extent these findings may be a product of the deprived conditions offered by the laboratory.…”

Section: Unrecognized Benefits Of Dogs For Behavioral Genetic Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

The canid genome: behavioral geneticists' best friend?

Hall

Wynne

2012

Genes Brain and Behavior

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We review a range of studies on the genetic contribution to behavior in canid species. We begin by identifying factors that make canids a promising model in behavioral genetics and proceed to review research over the last decade that has used canids to identify genetic contributions to behavior. We first review studies that have selectively bred dogs to identify genetic contributions to behavior and then review studies that estimate heritability from populations of nonlaboratory bred dogs. We subsequently review studies that used molecular genetics to identify gene-behavior associations and note associations that have been uncovered. We then note challenges in canid behavioral genetics research that require further consideration. We finish by suggesting alternative phenotyping methods and identify areas in which canids may have as yet unexploited advantages, such as in gene-environment interaction studies where genetic factors are found to moderate the effects of environmental variables.

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Strategies for improving cognition with aging: insights from a longitudinal study of antioxidant and behavioral enrichment in canines

Cited by 9 publications

References 71 publications

Demographic Change Across the Lifespan of Pet Dogs and Their Impact on Health Status

Demographic Change Across the Lifespan of Pet Dogs and Their Impact on Health Status

Down syndrome and dementia: A randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation

The canid genome: behavioral geneticists' best friend?

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