from HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 12 Aug 22:27
https://sh.itjust.works/post/43966383
Cats develop dementia in a similar way to humans with Alzheimer’s disease, leading to hopes of a breakthrough in research, according to scientists.
Experts at the University of Edinburgh carried out a post-mortem brain examination on 25 cats which had symptoms of dementia in life, including confusion, sleep disruption and an increase in vocalisation.
The team believe the discovery in cats could help them get a clearer understanding of the process, offering a valuable model for studying dementia in people.
The study, funded by Wellcome and the UK Dementia Research Institute, is published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, and included scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and California, UK Dementia Research Institute and Scottish Brain Sciences.
#world
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:((((
I had a cat with dementia when I was a kid, she didn’t make it past 7 years old. Now I have a 16yo cat who is starting to show the same signs. Today she nearly ran out of the house when I got home, and didn’t seem to recognize me. It’s rough.
She’s curled up next to me rn, but I’m still thinking those hard thoughts like when do I make the choice to put her to sleep? I’m not ready for that, maybe never will be, but she’s always been a very frightened cat and she doesn’t deserve to feel more frightened because of dementia.
This year I had to euthanize a cat I had the pleasure to have in my life for almost 14 years. I saw her come into this world right out of her mum, and I was there when she died. Afterwards, we brought her from the veterinarian and buried her in my mother's backyard.
She had late stage cancer. I never knew when was the right moment to say "it's time". The fucked up part is that we can't get verbal confirmation that "this is it" for them.
She could barely walk or breathe by the end and I didn't know if I was being selfish or if I was stealing time that she still wanted to have. It was brutal. Everyday was just one more day that I wanted to say goodbye.
And then one day I saw her struggle so much to breathe and said "it's time". The meds didn't work anymore and I couldn't ease her suffering in any way anymore.
That moment still sounds far off with your beloved friend. Treasure those cozy and snuggled naps they love to take and be kind to yourself as you navigate it all.
She is unfortunately having other medical problems. The steroid either isn’t working anymore or she forgets that she isn’t in pain/expects certain touches to be painful, I’m not sure which.
This cat has my whole heart. Like if soul mates could be pets, she’s mine.
Thank you for sharing, and understanding the struggle with giving our little loved ones the life and death they deserve. I’m sorry that you had to make that choice, but I’m glad that you had the strength to do so for her.
I think about my grandfather often since my little Ami has shown the same symptoms he had. I’ve always been so grateful that by the time the end came for him, it was quick, and I know that’s what he would have wanted. Perhaps that’s the view I need to keep for her
You'll know. When her behavior gets to the point where she's not having good quality of life, if she starts hiding all the time, panicking regularly, or finding dark places to be alone, or grooming/litterbox issues. I think if she just has bouts of memory loss but they return and she's happy, it's not time yet. I've been "fortunate" with my pets in that whatever the issue was, each time it became obvious very quickly and made the decision easy (but still hard to deal with, it always is).
Quality of life is the main recommended indicator. If she’s not in debilitating pain, active, and generally happy then there’s no reason for concern.
If you’re afraid you’ll be unable to put her to sleep when she needs, one thing I’ve learned is that having another pet helps, it’s not substituting them, it’s having someone else to keep company when they’re gone. When I put my older dog to sleep, the one year old mut, I hugged her so much and I cried into her fur a lot, but she helped me through the pain and kept me going because I still had to take care of her
Seems like solid research!
To those who have lost, I feel you. Had several cats through the years, cried for 3 days over the last one. She was tiny and sick from the git go, but she was my friend when I was so lonely.
I buried her in our swamp with my own hands, alone, and my friends came out to do her justice.
Currently living with 12 years old demented cat. Extra vocalizations? Yes definitely.
You know, it would be nice of lemmy to stop sharing and promoting media websites that are involved in a genocide.
Bbc is?
Oh this helps!
Anyway, after I got a flat tire, I went around the parking structure with my box cutter slashing tires left and right. I figure I could fix my flat tire by testing flat tires in as many cars as possible.
Bro, do you have even the slightest idea how much easier it makes research to
a) Have an animal having the same disease, so that you don’t need human autopsies / trials
b) Have another species develop the same condition the same way, which rules out anything exclusive to humans?
And animals with shorter lifespans, makes it much faster to track progression, possible causes/fixes etc.
I know im not the brightest but cats always seem random to me. Would I even noticed without going to a vet?
:(