Old Dogs as Alzheimer’s Models

Researchers report that companion dogs naturally develop brain protein deposits and blood biomarkers similar to human Alzheimer’s, based on owner‑donated brains and the same lab assays used in human studies. That suggests aging pet dogs could serve as a more realistic model than genetically modified mice for testing diagnostics and therapies. — If validated, using companion dogs could change preclinical pipelines, alter funding and regulatory paths for dementia trials, and raise veterinary‑ethics and owner‑consent policy issues.