New Delhi– Cats with dementia exhibit brain changes strikingly similar to those found in humans with Alzheimer’s disease, making them a valuable model for studying the condition, according to research released Tuesday.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh, UK, identified a build-up of the toxic protein amyloid-beta in the brains of cats with dementia — one of the hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Many senior cats naturally develop dementia, showing behavioral changes such as increased vocalization (meowing), confusion, and disrupted sleep — symptoms that closely resemble those in Alzheimer’s patients.
“The findings offer a clearer picture of how amyloid-beta may lead to age-related brain dysfunction and memory loss in cats,” said Robert I. McGeachan, corresponding author from the university’s Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences. “Scientists studying Alzheimer’s disease have relied heavily on genetically modified rodent models, but rodents do not naturally develop dementia. Studying cats with dementia has the potential to advance knowledge and help develop treatments for both cats and people.”
The team examined the brains of 25 cats of varying ages after death, including those showing signs of dementia. High-resolution microscopy revealed amyloid-beta deposits within the synapses — the connections between brain cells — in older cats and those diagnosed with dementia.
Synapses are crucial for communication between brain cells and are essential to healthy brain function. Their loss is a strong predictor of memory decline and reduced cognitive abilities in human Alzheimer’s patients.
Researchers also found evidence that astrocytes and microglia — types of support cells in the brain — were engulfing the affected synapses. This process, known as synaptic pruning, is beneficial during brain development but can accelerate synapse loss in dementia.
According to the study, published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, these findings could help improve understanding and treatment of dementia in cats and, due to the similarities, potentially contribute to new therapies for humans with Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: IANS)
