Cognitive dysfunction in cats Flashcards
What are the most common neurological age-related changes
The most common neurological age-related changes include:
- deterioration of cognition
- deterioration of motor performance
- visual and auditory decline
Explain why behavioral changes in aged pets are useful early indicators of a decline in health and welfare
Because behavioral changes in aged pets often appear before other signs of illness
What is cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) desscribes the age-related decline in cognitive abilities, characterized by certain behavioral changes that cannot be attributed to any other medical condition
What is the prevalence for CDS in cats
The prevalence of CDS is:
- around 30% for cats between 11 and 14
- 50% for cats over 15 years of age
Which is often the most common finding in cats with CDS
Excessive vocalisation, especially at night, is often the most common findings, especially in the oldest cats
What is the new acronym proposed to replace the DISHAAL acronym originally developed for dogs
The new feline acronym is VISH-DAAL
- excessive Vocalisations
- alterations in Interactions (e.g. increased affection)
- changes in Sleep-wake cycle
- House-soiling
- Disorientation
- alterations in Activity levels
- Anxiety
- Learning and memory
The behaviors included in this new acronym are more specific to cats and are listed in order of prevalence
What is the pathomechanism for cognitive dysfunction syndrome
The exact cause of CDS remains unknown
Several alterations in the brain are believed to be involved in its development:
- oxidative damage
- factors such as stress, ageing or disease can reduce the elimination and promote an excess of free radicals which may damage the brain
- vascular changes
- compromised cerebrovascular blood flow
- with age, the blood flow to and within the brain can be compromised by changes to the vessels themselves, systemic hypertension, heart disease, anemia, alterations in blood viscosity and/or hypercoagulability, all of which exacerbate neuronal hypoxia
What are the anatomical and physiological changes observed in the brain of ageing cats and humans
Gradual atrophy of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia
Region-specific neuronal loss
Incresaed ventricular size
Vascular and perivascular changes
Lipofuscin accumulation
Amyloid-beta deposition and tau hyperphosphorilation
What would be your differential list for CDS
Before making a diagnosis of CDS it is necessary to rule out other potential causes of the behavioral changes:
- pain (e.g., osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, dental disease
- hypertension
- chronic diseases (e.g., liver or kidney failure)
- endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperthyroidism or diabettus mellitus)
- infectious diseases (e.g., toxoplasmosis, FIV, FeLV, urinary tract infections)
- neoplasia (e.g., meningioma)
What would be your treatment recommendations according to behavioral signs observed in a cat suffering CDS
Altered social interaction with the family and/or other pets
- Feliway
- separate different social groups
Changes in sleep/wake patterns
- melatonin
- leave radio on
- create a separate room for the cat to sleep at night
House-soiling or spatial disorientation
- ensure close easy access to low fronted litter boxes
Temporal disorientation
- timed feeders, feeding balls
- gabapentin
