Associations between physical activity and cognitive dysfunction in older companion dogs: results from the Dog Aging Project

Dog Aging Project Consortium

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a form of dementia that shares many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. Given that physical activity is believed to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease in humans, we explored the association between physical activity and cognitive health in a cohort of companion dogs, aged 6–18 years. We hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity would be associated with lower (i.e., better) scores on a cognitive dysfunction rating instrument and lower prevalence of dementia, and that this association would be robust when controlling for age, comorbidities, and other potential confounders. Our sample included 11,574 companion dogs enrolled through the Dog Aging Project, of whom 287 had scores over the clinical threshold for CCD. In this observational, cross-sectional study, we used owner-reported questionnaire data to quantify dog cognitive health (via a validated scale), physical activity levels, health conditions, training history, and dietary supplements. We fit regression models with measures of cognitive health as the outcome, and physical activity—with several important covariates—as predictors. We found a significant negative relationship between physical activity and current severity of cognitive dysfunction symptoms (estimate = − 0.10, 95% CI: − 0.11 to − 0.08, p < 0.001), extent of symptom worsening over a 6-month interval (estimate = − 0.07, 95% CI: − 0.09 to − 0.05, p < 0.001), and whether a dog reached a clinical level of CCD (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.63, p < 0.001). Physical activity was robustly associated with better cognitive outcomes in dogs. Our findings illustrate the value of companion dogs as a model for investigating relationships between physical activity and cognitive aging, including aspects of dementia that may have translational potential for Alzheimer’s disease. While the current study represents an important first step in identifying a relationship between physical activity and cognitive function, it cannot determine causality. Future studies are needed to rule out reverse causation by following the same dogs prospectively over time, and to evaluate causality by administering physical activity interventions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)645-661
Number of pages17
JournalGeroScience
Volume45
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2023

Funding

FundersFunder number
Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech
National Institutes of HealthR01AG057330, P30AG072980, P30AG019610, R56AG067200, R01AG072445, R01AG064587
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Aging
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Arizona State University
University of Washington
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A and M University
Tel Aviv University
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University

    Keywords

    • Canine
    • Canine cognitive dysfunction
    • Healthy aging
    • Physical activity

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