Cats develop dementia similarly to humans, a study has shown.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh examined the brains of 25 cats which exhibited symptoms of dementia – like confusion, sleep disruption and an increase in vocalisation – after their death, in a bid to find both treatments for both felines and humans.
A buildup of amyloid-beta, a toxic protein and one of the defining features of Alzheimer’s disease, was found in the examined brains, leading researchers to call the breakthrough a “perfect natural model for Alzheimer’s”.
Microscopy images revealed the amyloid-beta buildup within synapses of older cats. Synapses allow the flow of messages between brain cells, and losing these causes reduced memory and cognitive abilities in humans with 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.”
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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.
