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Sleep and cognition in aging dogs. A polysomnographic study
Alejandra Mondino1, Magaly Catanzariti2, Diego Martin Mateos2,3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|May 15, 2023
Summary
Senior dogs experiencing cognitive decline show altered sleep patterns, with less time spent in deep sleep stages. These sleep changes correlate with cognitive performance, suggesting sleep monitoring could aid in understanding canine dementia.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Sleep Science
- Cognitive Aging
Background:
- Sleep is crucial for cognitive function and clearing amyloid beta, a protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease.
- Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a model for human Alzheimer's disease, with affected dogs exhibiting sleep disturbances.
- Age-related cognitive decline in senior dogs impacts sleep-wakefulness cycles and brain activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify age-related changes in sleep-wakefulness macrostructure and electroencephalographic (EEG) features in senior dogs.
- To correlate these sleep and EEG alterations with cognitive performance in senior dogs.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnographic recordings were conducted on 28 senior dogs during a 2-hour afternoon nap.
- Sleep macrostructure (wakefulness, drowsiness, NREM, REM sleep percentages, latencies) and EEG features (spectral power, coherence, Lempel Ziv Complexity) were analyzed.
- Cognitive performance was assessed using the Canine Dementia Scale Questionnaire and a cognitive test battery.
Main Results:
- Dogs with higher dementia scores and poorer problem-solving performance exhibited reduced time in NREM and REM sleep.
- Quantitative EEG analyses revealed differences associated with age and cognitive performance, indicating shallower sleep in more cognitively impaired dogs.
- Sleep-wakefulness cycle alterations were observed in senior dogs, correlating with cognitive decline.
Conclusions:
- Polysomnography can detect sleep-wakefulness cycle changes associated with cognitive decline in dogs.
- Sleep alterations in senior dogs are linked to their cognitive status.
- Further research should explore polysomnography's clinical utility in monitoring CCDS progression.
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