Treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction with novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 18098
• Main Authors: Zakošek Pipan, Maja, Prpar Mihevc, Sonja, Štrbenc, Malan, Košak, Urban, German Ilić, Ilija, Trontelj, Jurij, Žakelj, Simon, Gobec, Stanislav, Pavlin, Darja, Majdič, Gregor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13-09-2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/378/1689/1283; 692/308/153; 692/617; 692/617/375/132; 692/617/375/364; 692/617/375/365; Alzheimer's disease; Animals; Butyrylcholinesterase - metabolism; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Cognitive Dysfunction - drug therapy; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - metabolism; Dementia disorders; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - etiology; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dogs; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - veterinary; Quality of life; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severity of Illness Index; Side effects; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97404-2

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is common in aged dogs and has many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, like Alzheimer’s disease, CCD cannot be cured. In the present study, we treated dogs with CCD with our newly developed and characterized butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor (BChEi). Seventeen dogs were randomized into two groups (treated with BChEi and untreated) and followed for 6 months at regular check-ups. The dogs’ cognitive status was determined by a Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) questionnaire and two cognitive tests. In dogs with moderate cognitive impairment, treatment caused significant improvement in the clinical rating of cognitive abilities and the performance-based tests of cognitive functioning when compared to the untreated group (
p
 < 0.001). Dogs treated with BChEi showed markedly improved cognitive function with enhanced quality of life. No side effects were observed in the treated dogs with moderate cognitive impairment. According to the results of this preliminary study, there is an indication that novel BChEi may be a promising drug for the treatment of CCD in dogs and may be an interesting candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in humans. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm this.