Oxidative Stress, Aging, and Central Nervous System Disease in the Canine Model of Human Brain Aging
Decline in cognitive functions that accompany aging in dogs may have a biologic basis, and many of the disorders associated with aging in dogs may be mitigated through dietary modifications that incorporate specific nutraceuticals. Based on previous research and the results of laboratory and clinical studies, antioxidants may be one class of nutraceutical that provides benefits to aged dogs. Brains of aged dogs accumulate oxidative damage to proteins and lipids, which may lead to dysfunction of neuronal cells. The production of free radicals and lack of increase in compensatory antioxidant enzymes may lead to detrimental modifications to important macromolecules within neurons. Reducing oxidative damage through food ingredients rich in a broad spectrum of antioxidants significantly improves, or slows the decline of, learning and memory in aged dogs.
aInstitute for Brain Aging and Dementia, Department of Neurology, University of California at Irvine, 1259 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility, Irvine, CA 92697–4540, USA
bFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, Division of Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
cPet Nutrition Center, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., 1035 NE 43rd Street, Topeka, KS 66617-1587, USA
Corresponding author.
This project was sponsored by funds provided by the National Institute of Aging (grant AG12694) and by the US Department of the Army, contract no. DAMD17-98-1-8622. The content of the information does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The investigators adhered to the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” prepared by the Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council (National Institutes of Health publication no. 86-23, revised 1985). Research was conducted in facilities fully accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. Additional funding was provided by the Science and Technology Center, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. The research of Rofina and collaborators was financially supported by the commission Bevordering Diergeneeskundig en Vergelijkend Ziektekundig Onderzoek (Cie B.D.V.Z.O), The Graduate School of Animal Health, and Thijs Nix Foundation.
ABSTRACT