Study shows cats develop dementia similar to humans
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh examined the brains of 25 cats exhibiting dementia-like symptoms such as confusion, sleep disruption, and increased vocalization.
Post-mortem analysis revealed a buildup of amyloid-beta, a toxic protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
This buildup was found within the synapses of older cats. Synapses are crucial for communication between brain cells, and their loss leads to reduced memory and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease.
These findings suggest that feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), a form of dementia in cats, shares significant pathological features with human Alzheimer’s, making cats a “perfect natural model” for studying this disease.
The study showed microglia and astrocytes, types of brain support cells, engulfing amyloid-beta affected synapses through a process called synaptic pruning, which is also implicated in human Alzheimer’s disease.
Further studies, including a larger cohort of cats, have found that aging domestic cats develop both amyloid-beta and tau protein pathologies similar to human Alzheimer’s, though with some differences, such as the absence of fully developed neuritic plaques seen in humans.
These parallels make cats promising for deeper mechanistic and therapeutic research into Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists are hoping the findings of the study provide a clearer idea of how amyloid-beta could lead to memory loss and feline cognitive dysfunction, as well as offer a model for studying dementia in people.
They previously relied on models studying genetically modified rodents, even though the species doesn’t naturally suffer from dementia.
The findings could contribute to developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and help to manage feline dementia, experts said.
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Dr Robert McGeachan, study lead from the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said: “This opens the door to exploring whether promising new treatments for human Alzheimer’s disease could also help our ageing pets.
“Because cats naturally develop these brain changes, they may also offer a more accurate model of the disease than traditional laboratory animals, ultimately benefiting both species and their caregivers.”
The study, which included scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and California, the UK Dementia Research Institute and Scottish Brain Sciences, was funded by Wellcome and the UK Dementia Research Institute
