Winning the race with aging: age-related changes in gait speed and its association with cognitive performance in dogs

Abstract

Introduction: In humans, gait speed is a crucial component in geriatric evaluation since decreasing speed can be a harbinger of cognitive decline and dementia. Aging companion dogs can suffer from age-related mobility impairment, cognitive decline and dementia known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. We hypothesized that there would be an association between gait speed and cognition in aging dogs.

Methods: We measured gait speed on and off leash in 46 adult and 49 senior dogs. Cognitive performance in senior dogs was assessed by means of the Canine Dementia Scale and a battery of cognitive tests.

Results: We demonstrated that dogs' food-motivated gait speed off leash is correlated with fractional lifespan and cognitive performance in dogs, particularly in the domains of attention and working memory.

Discussion: Food-motivated gait speed off leash represents a relatively easy variable to measure in clinical settings. Moreover, it proves to be a more effective indicator of age-related deterioration and cognitive decline than gait speed on leash.

Keywords: attention; canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome; canine gerontology; memory; mobility; walking speed.

Figure 1

Role of age in gait speed. Correlation between age (A) [and fractional lifespan (B)] and gait speed on leash (left), gait speed off leash (right). The analyses were performed for each group of dogs (adult vs. senior) independently. For easier visualization both groups are shown in the same graph separated by a black dashed line. Asterisks indicate significant differences.

Figure 2

Role of pain on gait speed. Correlation between CBPI-pain scores (A) [and CBPI-interference scores (B)] and gait speed on leash (left), gait speed off leash (right). Asterisks indicate significant differences.