Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test study finds metabolic changes in dogs with cognitive
By Tonatiuh Melgarejo et al.·Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience·2026·College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Untargeted plasma metabolomics in canine cognitive dysfunction: the naturally occurring Alzheimer’s disease analog in dogs
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of older dogs with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), which is similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans, showed significant changes in their blood chemistry compared to healthy dogs. Researchers found that certain metabolites, like cholesterol and lysophosphatidic acid, were altered in the dogs with CCD, indicating issues with inflammation and oxidative stress in their brains. This study is the first to look at these metabolic changes in dogs with CCD, suggesting that understanding these differences could help in developing better diagnostics and treatments for both dogs and humans.
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Abstract
IntroductionCanine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is an increasingly prevalent naturally occurring neurodegenerative condition in senescent dogs that share neuropathological and clinical features with human Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Metabolic profiling allows for identification of new candidates for AD biomarkers, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Despite its translational potential, plasma metabolomic profiling of dogs with CDD has not been previously characterized.MethodsThis case–control study analyzed plasma samples from ten client-owned geriatric dogs, including five with severe CCD and five age-matched, clinically healthy controls. Untargeted plasma metabolomics was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS). Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses identified significant metabolic differences between the groups. Metabolites were considered significant based on a variable importance in projection (VIP) score > 1.5, fold change (FC) > 2.0, and adjusted p-value <0.05.ResultsFifteen metabolites across seven chemical classes were significantly altered in CCD dogs compared to controls, including glycerophospholipids, steroid derivatives, indoles, and mitochondrial-related compounds. Notably, elevated lysophosphatidic acid (LPA 20:2/0:0) and reduced ubiquinone-2 levels suggest dysregulation in neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Cholesterol exhibited the highest FC and VIP scores, further reinforcing its role in AD pathogenesis. Hierarchical clustering and pathway enrichment analyses supported distinct metabolic signatures in CCD that mirror those observed in human AD.DiscussionThis is the first untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling of dogs with CCD, revealing systemic metabolic disturbances that align with AD pathophysiology. Data was collected from senescent community-dwelling companion dogs, which enhances the study’s ecological and translational relevance. It supports the utility of CCD as an AD model and highlight candidate plasma biomarkers that warrant further investigation. Future longitudinal studies integrating metabolomics with neuroimaging, histopathology, and behavioral assessments are required to validate these findings and contribute to AD biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2026.1681817