Older cats that suffer from dementia develop the same brain changes as those seen in human Alzheimer’s patients, according to a new study.
These findings may help in the development of new treatments for both species.
A team of scientists examined brain tissue from 25 cats that died at different ages, including some that showed signs of dementia during their lives.
Using advanced microscopy, they identified the toxic protein amyloid beta, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, accumulating in the synapses of cats with dementia.
Synapses are the connection points between brain cells through which neural signals pass. When these connections are destroyed, thinking and memory abilities are impaired.
The main discovery of the study was that in cats, supportive brain cells known as glial cells swallow entire synapses that contain the toxic protein, thereby destroying brain connections.
This process, known as synaptic pruning, is beneficial and necessary during early brain development. However, when it is activated later in life due to amyloid beta accumulation, it causes severe damage.
This phenomenon of synapse loss has already been observed in the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients, but until now it had not been studied in cats.
The fact that cats naturally develop the same condition makes them an important research model.
This discovery may change the direction of Alzheimer’s research.
For decades, researchers have relied mainly on genetically modified mice.
The problem is that rodents do not naturally develop dementia. Cats, on the other hand, do and they develop it in the same way as humans.
Data show that feline dementia is relatively common.
A previous study found that 28 percent of cats aged 11 to 14 show at least one sign of dementia, and this rate rises to 50 percent in cats over the age of 15.
The clinical signs closely resemble those seen in human Alzheimer’s patients, including increased vocalization especially at night, confusion and disorientation, changes in sleep patterns, and problems with self grooming.
Its a devastating condition, whether it affects people, cats, or dogs.
These findings emphasize the close resemblance between cognitive decline in cats and Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
This similarity creates new possibilities for examining whether emerging treatments developed for
human Alzheimer’s could also support aging pets.
Because cats develop these brain changes naturally, they may offer a more realistic model of the disease than conventional laboratory animals, with potential benefits for both species and the people who care for them.