Treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction with novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor

Abstract

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is common in aged dogs and has many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, like Alzheimer’s disease, CCD cannot be cured. In the present study, we treated dogs with CCD with our newly developed and characterized butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor (BChEi). Seventeen dogs were randomized into two groups (treated with BChEi and untreated) and followed for 6 months at regular check-ups. The dogs’ cognitive status was determined by a Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) questionnaire and two cognitive tests. In dogs with moderate cognitive impairment, treatment caused significant improvement in the clinical rating of cognitive abilities and the performance-based tests of cognitive functioning when compared to the untreated group (p < 0.001). Dogs treated with BChEi showed markedly improved cognitive function with enhanced quality of life. No side effects were observed in the treated dogs with moderate cognitive impairment. According to the results of this preliminary study, there is an indication that novel BChEi may be a promising drug for the treatment of CCD in dogs and may be an interesting candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in humans. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm this.

Biologia Futura: four questions about ageing and the future of relevant animal models

“…According to several authors (e.g. Ambrosini et al 2019;Chapagain et al 2018;Creevy et al 2022;Zakošek Pipan et al 2021), dogs provide a good model for human cognitive ageing with unprecedented advantages in terms of general validity. Companion or pet dogs share our environment more than any other species.…”

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Electroencephalographic Signatures of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

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