Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine brain size and shape linked to tumor risk and aging
By Rzechorzek, Nina M et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2019·Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Network analysis of canine brain morphometry links tumour risk to oestrogen deficiency and accelerated brain ageing.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that neutered female Boxers may have a higher risk of developing brain tumors due to changes in their brain structure that resemble aging. The research showed that these dogs had smaller brain widths and volumes, along with enlarged brain ventricles, which are signs of an "aged-brain" profile. Neutered females were found to be 11 times more likely to develop brain tumors compared to those that were not neutered. This suggests that factors like estrogen deficiency, which can affect brain health, may play a role in increasing tumor risk in dogs.
People also search for: Boxer dog brain tumor risk · neutered female dog health issues · signs of brain aging in dogs
Abstract
Structural 'brain age' is a valuable but complex biomarker for several brain disorders. The dog is an unrivalled comparator for neurological disease modeling, however canine brain morphometric diversity creates computational and statistical challenges. Using a data-driven approach, we explored complex interactions between patient metadata, brain morphometry, and neurological disease. Twenty-four morphometric parameters measured from 286 canine brain magnetic resonance imaging scans were combined with clinical parameters to generate 9,438 data points. Network analysis was used to cluster patients according to their brain morphometry profiles. An 'aged-brain' profile, defined by a small brain width and volume combined with ventriculomegaly, was revealed in the Boxer breed. Key features of this profile were paralleled in neutered female dogs which, relative to un-neutered females, had an 11-fold greater risk of developing brain tumours. Boxer dog and geriatric dog groups were both enriched for brain tumour diagnoses, despite a lack of geriatric Boxers within the cohort. Our findings suggest that advanced brain ageing enhances brain tumour risk in dogs and may be influenced by oestrogen deficiency-a risk factor for dementia and brain tumours in humans. Morphometric features of brain ageing in dogs, like humans, might better predict neurological disease risk than patient chronological age.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31467332/