Sindrome da disfunzione cognitiva nel gatto

Abstract

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is a neurodegenerative disease in cats that consists of a decline in conscious mental activities. It is an age-dependent decline increasingly present in our pets for a growing geriatric population. This condition is due to a series of neuropathological changes which include: brain atrophy and neuronal loss, vascular changes, accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), accumulation of beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau protein. CDS in cats shares many similarities with human Alzheimer's disease (AD) and that is why the cat could be used as a spontaneous model for AD. Cats with CDS display behavioral abnormalities including disorientation (spatial and/or temporal), alteration in social interactions (with people or other pets), alteration in sleep / wake cycles, house-soiling, alterations in activity, excessive vocalization, alteration in responses to stimuli, reduction of self-hygiene and alteration in appetite. What veterinarians should do is educate the client to recognize clinical signs attributable to CDS and have owners fill out questionnaires for a quick and comprehensive screening. The diagnosis of CDS is a diagnosis by exclusion. It is therefore necessary first to exclude all possible underlying diseases that may appear with advancing age. Therapeutic treatments in case of CDS include dietary supplementations (e.g., Senilife, Aktivait for cats, SAMe), and specific diets (e.g., containing antioxidants, medium-chain triglycerides), environmental enrichment (e.g., easy access to key resources, calming pheromones), and drug therapy (e.g., selegiline or propentofylline). All of this does not allow to cure CDS, but they are useful for slowing down the deterioration and allows improved health, welfare and quality of life of affected cats.