April 23, 2025 – Can dogs get Alzheimer’s disease? Not exactly, but they can develop a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction, or CCD. It is similar in some ways to dementia in people. Dogs with CCD might seem confused, forget familiar routines, or stop responding to their environment like they used to.
What Is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction?
CCD mirrors many features of Alzheimer’s and may serve as a natural model for studying neurodegeneration. Because CCD and Alzheimer’s share pathological similarities, studying CCD may unlock clues to prevent or treat brain aging in both species.
Inside the Neuropathology Initiative
To better understand CCD and its connection to human brain aging, Morris Animal Foundation launched the Neuropathology Initiative, part of the larger Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. Researchers analyzed brain tissue from 17 dogs who passed away and whose families generously donated samples to science.
Partnering with Dr. John Fryer and his team at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, experts in human Alzheimer’s research, they examined the samples using advanced microscopes and special staining techniques to detect:
- Amyloid plaques: sticky protein clumps that damage nerve cells
- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA): protein buildup in brain blood vessels, potentially blocking nutrients and causing bleeding
Key Findings from the Study
- 65% (11 dogs) showed no Alzheimer’s-like changes
- 24% (four dogs) had mild Alzheimer’s-like brain changes
- 12% (two dogs) had severe Alzheimer’s-like pathology, with extensive amyloid plaques and CAA
While these findings do not confirm the dogs had Alzheimer’s, the similarities are striking and warrant further investigation.
What’s Next?
The brain samples are now being analyzed by Dr. Elizabeth Head at the University of California, Irvine. With nearly 25 years of experience studying aging in dog brains, she will explore other indicators of cognitive decline, such as blood vessel health and brain connectivity.
This research matters for more than just dogs. By studying the brains of our loyal companions, we move one step closer to understanding and ultimately fighting Alzheimer’s in humans.
And none of this would be possible without the families who said “yes” to participating in this important study. Their dogs, our Heroes, continue to make life better for pets and people alike.
You can help, too. Your donation supports critical research that improves the health and well-being of all dogs. Give today to the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and help advance discoveries that lead to longer, healthier lives for our beloved companions.
