Domestic cats (Felis catus) exhibit the same patterns of brain volume reduction and neurological decline observed in aging humans, leading scientists to believe they are an ideal model for studying dementia and aging. The findings were published in the journal Biology Open.
Cats can live for a relatively long time, and some evidence suggests that their aging processes may be similar to those of humans.
According to data from AnAge, the maximum human lifespan (122.5 years) is nearly double that of great apes (for example, 68 years for chimpanzees).
Domestic cats, like humans, also have a longer maximum lifespan (30 years) compared to closely related species, such as the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), which lives up to 19 years.
Moreover, it is estimated that there are about 600 million cats worldwide.
“We are focusing on cross-species age-related patterns across the lifespan of humans and cats, with particular emphasis on aging, because cats live long lives and are numerous. This suggests we can study them in sufficiently large samples to assess whether their ages can be matched to humans aged 80 and older,” stated researcher Courtney Sharvit from Auburn University and her colleagues.
For the study, the authors analyzed 3,754 data points collected from humans, cats, and other mammal species.
These data encompassed neuroimaging results, blood biochemistry analyses, disease-related patterns, and behavioral milestones, such as eye opening and the onset of playful behavior.
MRI findings showed that cats and humans undergo similar age-related changes in brain structure, including overall volume reduction, ventricle enlargement (fluid-filled cavities within the brain), and other structural alterations.
These brain changes are observed in conditions commonly associated with aging. Both humans and older cats may develop age-related neurodegenerative changes in later life.
“It was fascinating to discover that cats exhibit patterns of age-related brain atrophy similar to those seen in humans,” said Rigby Dames from the University of Bath Braeer. “These results add to the growing body of evidence that domestic animals can provide valuable insights into the aging process.”
Rather than using simple age ratios, the researchers developed a sophisticated biological model based on measurable age-related changes.
This approach reveals that aging in both species does not proceed at a constant rate but accelerates or decelerates at different life stages.
Using this model, scientists found that aging patterns in later life align particularly closely between the two species: an 80-year-old human is equivalent to a 15-year-old cat; and while not all animals reach an age equivalent to human old age, domestic cats do.
“More and more cat owners are requesting advanced brain imaging for their pets to diagnose diseases, which provides an excellent opportunity to study aging animals living alongside humans in real-world conditions,” said Ryan Gibson from Auburn University. “Expanding clinical access creates meaningful opportunities for translational research (studies that bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and healthcare), improving our understanding of aging and neurological diseases in ways that could benefit both cats and humans.”
“There is potential to create large-scale veterinary health databases for domestic pets, similar to human health databases like the UK Biobank,” said Rigby Dames. “Such resources could enhance our ability to study aging and disease using real-world clinical data and owner-reported information across different species.”
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