The dogs ranged in age from 10 to 16 years old. The electrodes tracked how long the canines spent in various stages of sleep and wakefulness, a process known as polysomnography. Though the pooches were snoozing in a lab, scientists tried to make them comfortable-the dogs were tucked safely into their beds from home, with white noise playing in the background and a staffer nearby to ensure their safety. To understand how cognitive function relates to sleep in man’s best friend, researchers fitted 28 older dogs with electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes on their heads, which non-invasively recorded the animals’ brain activity while they took two-hour-long afternoon naps. If true, this knowledge could help pet owners catch cognitive decline earlier and start treatment for their dogs sooner, scientists say. Researchers have previously identified a relationship between dementia and poor sleep in humans, and now they’ve found evidence that suggests the same link exists in dogs. Elderly dogs with declining cognitive function have trouble sleeping, just like humans with dementia do, according to a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.Īs they age, dogs can develop a condition known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), which is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

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