Dementia risk in dogs increases with each passing year of life: Study

Each additional year of life increases the relative chance of getting the neurodegenerative illness Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) by more than 50 per cent in dogs older than ten years, and the risk of developing CCD is nearly 6.5 times larger in inactive dogs compared to those who are very active. Canine Compulsive Disorder is a behavioral condition in dogs, similar to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in humans. The findings of the study, published in Scientific Reports, suggested that lifespan estimates could inform veterinarians whether to screen dogs for CCD. As with humans, cognitive function declines as dog's age and animals affected by CCD may show signs such as memory deficits, loss of spatial awareness, altered social interactions, and sleep disruption. Previous estimates of CCD rates in dogs have varied from 28 per cent in 11 to 12 years old dogs to 68 per cent in 15 to 16 years old dogs.