Many Older dogs develop a form of neuro-degenerative Disease called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or canine dementia or old dog syndrome with many similarities to Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by behavioral changes that are not attributable to other medical conditions. The clinical signs can include vocalization, loss of housetraining, change in sleep-wake cycle, changes in activity, spatial disorientation, alteration in social interaction and interest in food. The Older cat is also affected by the disease.

There are similarities between the pathophysiology of CCD in  older dogs and cats and Alzheimer’s disease in humans.  The deposition of Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in extracellular plaque and perivascular infiltrate is observed in both species. Inflammation is a key contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease and CCD and is probably both a cause and a consequence of the disease.  The deposition of amyloid β protein is associated with a local inflammatory response involving activation of cells like microglial cells and astrocytes and the recruitment of macrophages. 

Recently researchers from the School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles made an interesting discovery¹. They found that both  vitamin D3 and omega 3 DHA improved the ability of the macrophages from the Alzheimer’s patients’ blood samples to absorb amyloid beta. They also noticed there was less of the cell-death that is normally triggered by amyloid beta. They also suggest that low vitamin D3 and docosahexaenoic acid intake and/or poor anabolic production of resolvin D1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells could contribute to AD onset/pathology.

More studies are needed but the best you can do for your older dog is to supply him or her with a food supplement providing a non oxidized form of Omega 3 DHA. 

¹ Mizwicki et al  Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease; 2013, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p155-170.