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TORONTO, ON —
New research shows that
a vegetable-rich diet can halt the mental decline
in dogs that comes with age. In some cases the deterioration can be
reversed, along with other aspects of aging in dogs, such
as arthritis and poor eyesight.
Scientists from various institutions
converged last month to discuss their findings at a symposium on brain
aging in dogs at the annual meeting of the North American Veterinary
Association in Orlando, Florida. The symposium was sponsored jointly
by Hill's Pet Nutrition, the U.S. National Institute on Aging and the
United States military.
"We say that we can teach an old dog
new tricks because it's possible to slow down or partially reverse brain
decline," says Dr. Norton Milgram, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of
Toronto. "Some dogs in our tests definitely became smarter."
Dr. Milgram's year-long study involved the testing of 48 beagles, ages
9 to 14, owned by the military. The beagles were divided into four
groups that were cognitively equal, and each group was introduced to a
different dietary and behavioral situation.
ROWDY
is an 8-year-old Beagle who would love to participate in any scientific
experiment that involves FOOD. Meet Rowdy and other "old
dogs" looking for homes: www.SeniorDogRescue.org
Two of these groups were fed
ordinary supermarket dog food while the other two were fed an
identical-looking blend that contained antioxidants (fruits and
vegetables, vitamins C and E, the fatty acids DHA and EPA, carnitine and
alpha lipoic acid).
One group in each of the two diet categories also received
"cognitive enrichment." That is, five to six days a week
they were challenged with learning tasks and puzzles, such as finding
hidden food rewards.
At the end of the year, all four groups were re-tested, and the results
showed that the diet-enriched, cognitively-enriched group scored the
highest.
Good food sources of antioxidants:
Vitamin C
citrus fruits, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables,
strawberries, raw cabbage and potatoes
Vitamin E
wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, spinach (green leafy
vegetables), vegetable oil
Beta Carotene
carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale,
collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots
Selenium
grains, eggs, garlic, vegetables
More
from Colorado State University...
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Working with Dr. Milgram was Dr. Carl Cotman, a neurochemist in the
Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of California at
Irvine, who said that "evidence indicates that oxidative stress is
the main factor in brain aging." He went on to suggest
that "antioxidant supplements like vitamins E and C might improve
cognitive function and reduce age-associated cognitive decline."
It has been widely accepted
that these findings also apply to people, since dogs and humans share very
close pathological patterns in the brain.
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We at The Scoop realize that it
may not always be obvious that your dog's mental faculties are beginning
to deteriorate. Therefore, we have compiled a handy checklist to
help you determine when your pooch may need special dietary attention, as
suggested by researchers quoted in this article.
Yes, it's already time for a Top 8 List...
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The
Top 8 Signs Your Dog is Getting Dumb
(from
David Letterman's Oct. 19, 1993 broadcast)
- Lengthy pause after
"Bow" while it tries to remember "Wow"
- Buries tail, wags
bones
- When you give him
Alpo, he just eats the meat by-products
- Despite the
overwhelming evidence, still smokes two packs a day
- Has suffered over two
dozen concussions from toilet seat falling on his head.
- Thinks "Snausages"
is a real word.
- Spends hours staring
at kitchen cabinet, waiting for tiny horse-and-carriage to
come out.
and
the #1 Sign Your Dog is Getting Dumb is...
- Constantly chasing
people named "Katz".
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