Neurology research intern North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Abstract: Background - Changes in stride length have been linked to cognitive impairment in humans with dementia. The relationship between stride length and cognitive decline in aging dogs remains uninvestigated. Hypothesis/Objectives - We aimed to examine whether height-adjusted stride length (SLadj) is associated with owner-reported cognitive impairment in aging companion dogs. Animals - Client-owned senior and geriatric dogs, enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Canine Neuroaging at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. Methods- On-leash gait was recorded on a standardized 5-m walkway, and thoracic (TL) and pelvic limb (PL) stride lengths were derived from video analysis and normalized to withers height. Cognitive function was assessed using the Canine Dementia Scale (CADES). The Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) was used to evaluate pain. Associations between SLadj, age, CADES, and CBPI scores were examined using mixed-effects models. Results - Eighty-eight dogs were enrolled. Height adjustment reduced the influence of body size on stride length. TL SLadj decreased significantly with age, whereas PL SLadj did not. Higher CADES scores were associated with shorter mean thoracic limb height-adjusted stride length, and this association persisted after adjustment for age and owner-reported pain. Clinical Importance - Owner-reported cognitive decline in aging dogs is associated with shorter mean thoracic limb height-adjusted stride length, even after controlling for age and pain. These findings support the use of stride length as an objective, scalable functional mobility measure that reflects changes associated with cognitive decline and may be a useful tool for research and clinical monitoring of aging in dogs.
