Is Your Dog Walking Slow? They Could Have Dementia

“Is Your Canine Companion Slowing Down? Possible Indicators of Canine Cognitive Impairment

A recent investigation has unveiled a noteworthy correlation between the diminished movement pace of aging dogs and the manifestation of cognitive decline. This study suggests that evaluating the walking speed of senior dogs might offer a convenient approach to monitoring their physical and neurological health during the aging process.

Recent research conducted by scholars from North Carolina State University has illuminated the parallel between reduced physical agility and a corresponding decline in mental acuity in dogs. The measurement of gait speed in elderly canines emerges as a potentially uncomplicated method for gauging their overall wellness and identifying potential age-related regression in cognitive function.

Natasha Olby, the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology at NC State and the principal author of this study, remarks, “In human beings, the pace of walking is closely linked to the deterioration of cognitive faculties. We posited that a comparable phenomenon could hold true for dogs.”

Olby and her collaborators embarked on a study that involved assessing gait speed, both on and off leash, in a cohort of 46 adult dogs and 49 senior dogs. The adult dogs served as a control group, with their gait speed exclusively measured. In contrast, the senior dogs underwent supplementary cognitive evaluations, while their owners completed a cognitive assessment questionnaire named the CADES questionnaire. Higher CADES scores are indicative of more pronounced cognitive regression.

Based on the CADES scores and cognitive test results, the senior dogs were categorized into groups. Individual gait speed was initially measured by having the dogs walk a distance of five meters on a leash with a handler. Subsequently, a treat was positioned at the same distance from the dogs, and they were summoned to retrieve it without the restraint of a leash.

Olby explains, “Measuring gait speed poses a challenge due to the tendency of dogs to synchronize their pace with that of their handler when on leash. Therefore, we conducted measurements both on and off leash to determine the most informative metric.” She further adds, “Additionally, the potential influence of body size and limb length on gait speed was a concern. However, if one observes a chihuahua and a great dane walking off leash, the smaller dog isn’t consistently lagging behind the larger one. Our findings revealed that on a leash, body size correlates with gait speed, but this correlation is absent when dogs are off leash. Evaluating gait speed in an unencumbered state allows us to discern the combined influence of physical capability and food-driven motivation.”

The researchers discovered that, in the case of senior dogs, size was an inconsequential factor in terms of speed. In other words, irrespective of relative size, dogs in the final 25% of their anticipated lifespan exhibited diminished movement speed compared to their adult counterparts.

Olby notes, “Similar to humans, our walking pace remains relatively stable for most of our lives, only to decline as we enter the last quarter or so of our life expectancy.”

Elderly dogs that exhibited reduced mobility also demonstrated more pronounced levels of cognitive decline, as indicated by owner-completed questionnaires and subpar performance in cognitive assessments.

While the researchers observed no discernible correlation between joint discomfort and gait speed, they acknowledged the absence of dogs with severe osteoarthritis in their study. This is a matter they intend to address in future research endeavors.

Olby underscores the importance of mobility and cognition in the context of functional aging. She states, “Mobility and cognition stand as the two primary predictors of morbidity during the aging process. Mobility is heavily reliant on sensory input, central processing, and motor output—essentially, the nervous system. Consequently, mobility and cognition share a profound interdependence. Reduced mobility translates to diminished sensory input to the nervous system. Hence, the association between walking speed and cognitive decline comes as no surprise.”

She adds, “The most compelling aspect of our study lies not only in the correlation between gait speed and dementia in dogs, mirroring the relationship seen in humans, but also in the simplicity of the testing method employed. The method, motivated by food incentives and conducted over a short distance, is eminently reproducible. It could potentially evolve into a straightforward screening procedure that any veterinarian can administer to their aging patients.”

Reference: “Winning the Race Against Aging: Age-Related Alterations in Gait Speed and Its Link to Cognitive Performance in Canines” by Alejandra Mondino, Michael Khan, Beth Case, Gilad Fefer, Wojciech K. Panek, Margaret E. Gruen, and Natasha J. Olby, 15 June 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1150590″

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More about Canine Cognitive Health

• Frontiers in Veterinary Science
• Natasha Olby, NC State University
• North Carolina State University
• CADES questionnaire