Dogs with Dementia Also Suffer from Sleep Problems, Finds Study
A recent study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University has found that just like humans with dementia, elderly dogs with similar cognitive decline can experience disturbed sleep. In fact, the study shows that dogs with dementia spend less time sleeping than dogs with healthy brains.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, found that dogs with higher scores of dementia spent less time sleeping and took longer to fall asleep than their healthy counterparts. Additionally, dogs that performed poorly on memory tasks experienced shallower rapid eye movement sleep.
While there is still no cure for dementia in both humans and canines, the study’s senior author, Prof. Natasha Olby, hopes to follow dogs before and during the progression of dementia for early identification of predictors of future problems. If successful treatments are found for dogs, they could also pave the way for treatments in humans.
Nick Sutton, a dog health and science expert from the Kennel Club, welcomed the study, saying that these findings suggest the importance of speaking to vets for any concerning changes in a dog’s sleeping behavior.
