The Effects of Antioxidants and Experience on the Development of Age Dependent Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuropathology in Canines
Abstract
Progression of individual rates of age-dependent cognitive dysfunction and the potential for antioxidants and environmental enrichment to slow the rate of decline are being evaluated over a 3-year span in beagle dogs. The study started with dogs between the ages of 9-13 years. Dogs underwent baseline screening of cognitive function and general health evaluation including clinical pathology and physical examinations. Magnetic resonance scans (MRs) are being used to obtain in vivo measures of brain and cerebrovascular function. Each dog has been placed into one of four groups counterbalanced with respect to cognitive ability, sex and age: (1) control group 2) enriched environment (3) dietary enrichment and (4) combined dietary and environmental enrichment. A broad spectrum of antioxidants are added for dietary enrichment. The environmental enrichment condition consists of additional cognitive experience and enriched sensory environment. Cognitive function, physical health and brain MRs will be monitored yearly to establish ongoing effects of the treatment. At the end of the study, detailed histological analysis of brain tissue will be correlated with cognitive function and MR measures of brain atrophy and cerebrovascular function to establish the effectiveness of the treatments on delaying or preventing the development of age-dependent neuropathologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398089
Entities
People
- Bruce A. Muggenburg
Organizations
- Lovelace Foundation