New U of A study will investigate growth hormones and cognitive aging in dogs
Originally Featured on the Arizona News Site
Researchers from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine are investigating an interesting phenomenon they encountered studying how dogs age: while large breeds tend to live shorter lives than their smaller compatriots, their brains seem to age at the same speed.
"Based on their different lifespans, you might expect large dogs like Great Danes to develop signs of dementia around 8 years old, but small dogs like Chihuahuas to have a later onset – somewhere in their teens," said Evan MacLean, associate professor of veterinary medicine. "But that's not what we find. The implication is kind of interesting: It means that big dogs may just die before they acquire any kind of cognitive dysfunction."