Canines may hold the key to better understanding the sleep science of dementia. Scientists have discovered that old dogs with cognitive difficulties experience many of the same disruptions in their sleep patterns as people with Alzheimer’s disease, including shallow and interrupted sleep. New research from North Carolina State University, Argentina, and Hungary has revealed that dogs with dementia show stronger beta wave activity during naps, which is associated with wakefulness. In addition, these dogs experience a significant loss in slow-wave sleep, which may be linked to poorer memory consolidation. The findings suggest that dogs could be a good model for research on Alzheimer’s disease and monitoring early markers of cognitive decline in pets. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
