Don’t Forget About Cognitive Support

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a condition caused by degenerative aging, in which a protein called beta-amyloid builds up in a dog’s brain and creates a toxic environment for neurons. Signs include changes in behavior that can manifest as altered sleep/wake cycles, disorientation, pacing, anxiety, accidents in the house, and how they interact with family members (both people and other pets).¹ This is similar to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Mild signs can start in dogs as early as six to seven years of age and progress in severity.¹ Cognitive support is an important aspect of senior dog health but is not as commonly thought about as other issues, like joint support.

How Does it Happen?

CDS is caused by changes related to aging that affect the brain’s function. Physical alterations in the brain include regional atrophy with accompanying cell loss, increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and accumulation of abnormal proteins such as beta-amyloid.² Reduced energy metabolism has also been noted in CDS.³ Glucose is the primary energy source for the brain; however, decreased cerebral glucose utilization has been noted in middle-aged dogs compared to younger dogs.³ Compromises in glucose metabolism lead to the progression of CDS.³ With aging also comes increased dysfunction of the mitochondria, the “powerhouse of the cell.” This further reduces energy availability to brain cells and decreases overall energy generation, leading to increased oxidative stress and further contributing to disease.⁴

Nutritional Management

To combat cognitive dysfunction, nutritional modifications can be made targeting changes associated with aging.

Reducing oxidative stress: Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radical production and oxidative damage and the body’s ability to counter them. As the brain’s mitochondria becomes less efficient, oxidative stress increases. The increased oxidative stress correlates with the severity of behavioral changes associated with CDS.⁵ Antioxidants, such as vitamin E and C, and mitochondrial cofactors (which help increase mitochondrial efficiency) such as alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, have been observed to enhance canine cognitive function when combined.^6,7

Reducing inflammation: Anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, play an important neuroprotective role in the brain. Healthy neural tissues are rich in DHA. Aging is accompanied by reduced concentrations of DHA, leading to degeneration of the neural tissues.⁸ In humans and mice, increased omega-3 fatty acid intake was found to protect against cognitive decline.⁸ Although studies of similar effects in dogs using only omega-3 fatty acids are sparse, cognitive function has improved when omega-3 fatty acids are combined with other cognitive support nutrients.⁹

Providing an alternative energy source for the brain: Due to reduced glucose utilization, finding an alternative source for increasing energy production is key. Ketone bodies can act as the alternative fuel source for brain cells by skipping glycolysis and entering the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle as acetyl-CoA directly.³ Since dogs do not generate ketones as efficiently as humans do on a “ketogenic diet” (high fat, low protein, and extremely low carbohydrates), feeding medium chain triglycerides (MCT) has been investigated as a ketogenic ingredient. Because of how quickly they are metabolized, MCT can increase ketone production regardless of dietary protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels.¹⁰

Other cofactors that affect the physiology, signaling, and energy generation of neurons are also potential therapeutic options for CDS. Calcium buffering proteins, such as apoaequorin, modulate the disturbance of intracellular calcium associated with aging. In dog trials, apoaequorin was observed to improve learning and attention.¹¹ Phosphatidylserine (for neuronal membrane quality), inositol (neurotransmitter cofactor), choline (neurotransmitter precursor), and polyphenols (e.g., resveratrol, curcumin, flavonoids, etc.) all may contribute to cognitive support.³

Other Treatments

Nutritional management of CDS should be coupled with other treatments such as enrichment. Environmental enrichment helps to stimulate the brain. Interacting with your dog through walks, allowing them to sniff and take in new environments, or playing with them through exercise and interactive and varied toys are all forms of enrichment.¹²

Medication is also available. Selegiline is approved for the management of CDS and your veterinarian may also recommend therapeutics, such as anti-anxiety medications, to decrease signs of CDS.¹²

Cognitive support plays a crucial role in enhancing the human-animal bond and ensuring a high quality of life for pets during their golden years. BSM Partners is always on top of the latest research and innovation and can offer expert guidance in developing premium products tailored to the needs of aging pets.

References 

1. Landsberg GM, Nichol J, Araujo JA. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: A Disease of Canine and Feline Brain Aging. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012;42(4):749-768. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.04.003
2. Vite CH, Head E. Aging in the Canine and Feline Brain. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2014;44(6):1113-1129. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.07.008
3. May KA, Laflamme DP. Nutrition and the aging brain of dogs and cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019;255(11):1245-1254. doi:10.2460/javma.255.11.1245
4. Ivanisevic J, Stauch KL, Petrascheck M, et al. Metabolic drift in the aging brain. Aging. 2016;8(5):1000-1013. doi:10.18632/aging.100961
5. Rofina JE, van Ederen AM, Toussaint MJM, et al. Cognitive disturbances in old dogs suffering from the canine counterpart of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Res. 2006;1069(1):216-226. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.11.021
6. Milgram NW, Zicker SC, Head E, et al. Dietary enrichment counteracts age-associated cognitive dysfunction in canines. Neurobiol Aging. 2002;23(5):737-745. doi:10.1016/S0197-4580(02)00020-9
7. Cotman C, Head E, Muggenburg B, Zicker S, Milgram N. Brain aging in the canine: a diet enriched in antioxidants reduces cognitive dysfunction. Neurobiol Aging. 2002;23(5):809-818. doi:10.1016/S0197-4580(02)00073-8
8. Cutuli D. Functional and Structural Benefits Induced by Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids During Aging. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(4):534-542. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666160614091311
9. Pan Y, Kennedy AD, Jönsson TJ, Milgram NW. Cognitive enhancement in old dogs from dietary supplementation with a nutrient blend containing arginine, antioxidants, B vitamins and fish oil. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(03):349-358. doi:10.1017/S0007114517003464
10. Pan Y, Larson B, Araujo JA, et al. Dietary supplementation with medium-chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs. Br J Nutr. 2010;103(12):1746-1754. doi:10.1017/S0007114510000097
11. Milgram NW, Landsberg G, Merrick D, Underwood MY. A novel mechanism for cognitive enhancement in aged dogs with the use of a calcium-buffering protein. J Vet Behav. 2015;10(3):217-222. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2015.02.003
12. Cohen, A. Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome

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About the Authors

Dr. Dan Su works at BSM Partners as Director of Nutrition Services. His areas of expertise include nutritional management of dogs and cats, and the culinary arts. As a food and animal enthusiast, Dan loves to give his pets food names. He is the proud owner of a cat named Gravy.

Renee Streeter is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition). She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Cornell University and served as a farm animal nutritionist for a major feed company before attending veterinary school at Ross University. Her clinical rotations were done at Cornell University’s college of veterinary medicine, where she stayed on to do her Clinical Nutrition residency. While working in a large general practice and doing clinical nutrition consultation, Dr. Streeter also founded her own veterinary nutrition consulting company and currently helps industry clients through her position as the Nutrition Practice Principal at BSM Partners.