Brain mineral concentrations in canine cognitive dysfunction.

Brain mineral dysregulation characterizes canine cognitive dysfunction, particularly in prefrontal cortex.

This retrospective case-control study examined regional brain mineral concentrations in 24 dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) compared to 15 cognitively normal aged dogs. CCD, an age-related neurodegenerative condition analogous to canine Alzheimer's disease, was diagnosed via caregiver questionnaires, physical examination, and laboratory testing after excluding other intracranial pathology. Researchers analyzed four cortical regions known to exhibit β-amyloid pathology (prefrontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortex) plus the cerebellum using advanced analytical techniques. CCD dogs demonstrated significantly reduced concentrations of essential elements (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc) and elevated toxic metals (cadmium, molybdenum, nickel, lead) in specific brain regions. The prefrontal cortex showed the most pronounced alterations, consistent with its early involvement in CCD pathology, while cerebellar mineral concentrations remained largely unaffected. Principal component analysis effectively distinguished CCD from non-CCD dogs. These findings suggest mineral dyshomeostasis contributes to CCD pathogenesis, with particular implications for antioxidant defense and neuronal function.

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