Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in old dogs

Abstract

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in old dogs is a pathology from which dogs will more easily suffer, and whose symptoms dogs’ owners will have to learn to recognize because dogs’ average life is increasing more and more thanks to the considerable improvements in terms of nutrition and of lifestyle. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is a multi-factorial pathology: genetic, environmental and food causes play a determinant role in creating the conditions for the onset of the symptoms; in fact, prevention passes through the improvement of these aspects. Different brain areas are affected and the mechanisms with which the brain tissue is damaged are several. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is characterized by the fact that it is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in man, both for what concerns the causes, the pathogenic mechanisms, the affected brain areas and prevention, so much to be used as respective study model.