Gut Microbiome Composition is Associated with Age and Memory Performance in Pet Dogs
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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

C. elegans Positive Butanone Learning, Short-term, and Long-term Associative Memory Assays
Published on: March 11, 2011
Eniko Kubinyi1, Soufiane Bel Rhali1,2, Sára Sándor1
1Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
Abstract:
Gut microbiota can crucially influence behavior and neurodevelopment. Dogs show unique similarities to humans in their physiology and may naturally develop dementia-like cognitive decline. We assessed 29 pet dogs' cognitive performance in a memory test and analyzed the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from fecal samples collected right after the behavioral tests. The major phyla identified in the dog microbiomes were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria, each represented by >20% of the total bacterial community. Fewer Fusobacteria were found in older dogs and better memory performance was associated with a lower proportion of Actinobacteria. Our preliminary findings support the existence of links between gut microbiota, age, and cognitive performance in pet dogs.
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