{"topic_id":"evidence_feline_cognitive_dysfunction_diet","category":"evidence","context":"---\ntopic_id: evidence_feline_cognitive_dysfunction_diet\ncategory: evidence\ntitle: Evidence cluster — nutrition & cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC + PubMed)\nlang: en\nsource_file: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_feline_cognitive_dysfunction_diet_2026-07-22.txt\nsource: Europe PMC REST search (first-hand PMIDs) + PubMed efetch verbatim abstracts, pulled 2026-07-22\ndate_parsed: 2026-07-22\nmodel: codebuddy\nbatch: P0-EVIDENCE-6\nverified: 2026-07-22 substring_match 24/24 claims passed\npath: evidence/evidence_feline_cognitive_dysfunction_diet/01_feline_cognitive_dysfunction_diet.md\n---\n## Representative peer-reviewed studies (verbatim abstracts)\n\nThe following studies were retrieved from Europe PMC / PubMed and are reproduced verbatim. Interpretive synthesis is left to the API user.\n\n### PMID:36504872 — Age-related brain atrophy in cats without apparent neurological and behavioral signs using voxel-based morphometry.\n- Source: Front Vet Sci 2022\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Nov 24;9:1071002. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1071002. \neCollection 2022.\n\nAge-related brain atrophy in cats without apparent neurological and behavioral \nsigns using voxel-based morphometry.\n\nHamamoto Y(1)(2)(3), Yu Y(2), Asada R(2), Mizuno S(2), Hasegawa D(2)(3).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science \nUniversity, Musashino, Japan.\n(2)Laboratory of Veterinary Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon \nVeterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Japan.\n(3)The Research Center for Animal Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life \nScience University, Musashino, Japan.\n\nINTRODUCTION: Brain atrophy is observed with aging and may cause cognitive \ndecline or dysfunction. Aging cats may demonstrate behavioral changes related to \ncognitive dysfunction. In the clinical veterinary field, although the \nconventional region of interest method by manual or semiauto tracing on magnetic \nresonance imaging is used to detect atrophy of regional structures, such as the \nhippocampus, it is difficult to assess atrophy globally. Voxel-based morphometry \n(VBM) has been developed to detect global and regional abnormalities in humans. \nThe purpose of the present study investigates whether the feline brain volume \ndecreases with aging using VBM analysis.\nMATERIALS: A total of 65 cats, aged 17-200 months, without apparent neurological \nand behavioral signs were included in the statistical analysis.\nRESULTS: We observed that the gray matter in the bilateral parietal lobes was \ndecreased significantly with aging. The regions that showed decreased volume \nincluded the right postcruciate, cingulate gyrus, rostral \nsuprasylvian/ectosylvian gyri, and the left postcruciate gyrus. No significant \nreduction in white matter was observed. Together, our results show that \nage-related brain atrophy can be detected using VBM analysis.\nDISCUSSION: The age-related atrophy of the parietal cortex may not cause \nneurological and behavioral signs in cats. Therefore, veterinarians should \nconsider age when assessing the relation between morphometric and functional \nabnormalities of the parietal cortex in cats.\n\nCopyright © 2022 Hamamoto, Yu, Asada, Mizuno and Hasegawa.\n\nDOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1071002\nPMCID: PMC9729775\nPMID: 36504872\n\nConflict of interest statement: The authors declare that the research was \nconducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could \nbe construed as a potential conflict of interest.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Front Vet Sci 2022\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Nov 24;9:1071002. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1071002. \neCollection 2022.\n\nAge-related brain atrophy in cats without apparent neurological and behavioral\n\n### PMID:40078212 — A non-randomized pilot study to test the feasibility of developing a frailty scale for pet cats.\n- Source: Front Vet Sci 2025\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2025 Feb 26;12:1549566. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1549566. \neCollection 2025.\n\nA non-randomized pilot study to test the feasibility of developing a frailty \nscale for pet cats.\n\nColleran EJ(1), Delgado MM(2), Ren Y(3), German AJ(4), Gruen ME(5), Gunn-Moore \nDA(6), Romanowski K(7), Simpson W(8), Kirnos C(9), Keefe Ternes K(10), Karnia \nJ(11), Temples M(12), Taylor SL(3), Bain M(13), Buffington CAT(13).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Chico Hospital for Cats, Chico, CA, United States.\n(2)Feline Minds Cat Behavior Consulting, Sacramento, CA, United States.\n(3)Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of \nCalifornia, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.\n(4)Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life \nSciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom.\n(5)Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North \nCarolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.\n(6)The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The \nUniversity of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Campus, Edinburgh, United \nKingdom.\n(7)Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, \nSacramento, CA, United States.\n(8)Morrisville Cat Hospital, Morrisville, NC, United States.\n(9)The Cat Hospital of Media, Media, PA, United States.\n(10)The Feline Hospital, Salem, MA, United States.\n(11)Scottsdale Cat Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States.\n(12)Civic Feline Clinic, Walnut Creek, CA, United States.\n(13)Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, \nUniversity of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.\n\nINTRODUCTION: Human frailty has long been studied and dozens of \"frailty scales\" \nhave been developed, but equivalent research is more limited in cats. This pilot \nstudy aimed to determine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining veterinary \npractices and owners, collecting study data, and analyzing results about frailty \nin older cats.\nMETHODS: Participating feline-exclusive practice veterinarians recruited cats \naged 11-20 years, of either sex and of any breed. Owners completed a \nquestionnaire about their cat and estimated its frailty. Study veterinarians \nalso estimated the cat's frailty after obtaining a history, conducting a \nphysical examination, and completing a separate questionnaire. The derived \nvariables were used to investigate the following domains of frailty: (1) \ncognitive function; (2) behavior; (3) activity; (4) body weight; (5) body \ncondition score; (6) muscle condition score; (7) any unexplained changes in \nweight, cognitive function, or eating behavior; and (8) the number of chronic \ndiseases identified in the cat. Some cats were followed prospectively for 6 \nmonths, and mortality during this period was compared with frailty status, as \ndetermined by the veterinarian.\nRESULTS: Half (6/12) of the veterinary practices invited to participate \nsuccessfully recruited 273 owner-cat pairs, with baseline questionnaire results \nobtained from 189 owners (69%) and veterinarian questionnaires obtained for 210 \ncats (77%). Of 122 cats having both owner and veterinarian questionnaire \nresults, 45 (37%) were classified as frail by the owner and 51 (42%) by the \nveterinarian, with 28 (23%) classified as frail on both questionnaires. Of the \ncats with follow-up data, 13 of the 64 cats (20%) reported by veterinarians to \nbe frail died or were euthanased during the 6-month follow-up, compared with \nonly 1 of 54 cats (2%) that were not reported to be frail (Fisher's exact test P \n= 0.003).\nDISCUSSION: Developing a brief feline frailty questionnaire (FFQ) was feasible, \nand the results of such assessments were associated with 6-month mortality. A \nlarger definitive trial should be considered to explore further the \n(dis)agreement between owners and veterinarians and better understand which \nfrailty signs owners might be missing.\n\nCopyright © 2025 Colleran, Delgado, Ren, German, Gruen, Gunn-Moore, Romanowski, \nSimpson, Kirnos, Keefe Ternes, Karnia, Temples, Taylor, Bain and Buffington.\n\nDOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1549566\nPMCID: PMC11897749\nPMID: 40078212\n\nConflict of interest statement: AG is an employee of the University of \nLiverpool, but his position is financially supported by Royal Canin and also \nreceived financial remuneration and gifts for providing educational material, \nspeaking at conferences, and consultancy work, all unrelated to the current \nstudy. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the \nabsence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as \na potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an \neditorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no \nimpact on the peer review process and the final decision.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Front Vet Sci 2025\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2025 Feb 26;12:1549566. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1549566. \neCollection 2025.\n\nA non-randomized pilot study to test the feasibility of developing a frailty\n\n### PMID:27370391 — What is healthy aging?\n- Source: J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):531. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649522.\n\nWhat is healthy aging?\n\nPerea S, Scherk M.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/1098612X16649522\nPMCID: PMC10816675\nPMID: 27370391 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):531. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649522.\n\nWhat is healthy aging?\n\nPerea S, Scherk M.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/1098612X16649522\nPMCID: PMC10816675\nP\n\n### PMID:34167339 — 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines.\n- Source: J Feline Med Surg 2021\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Jul;23(7):613-638. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211021538.\n\n2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines.\n\nRay M(1), Carney HC(2), Boynton B(3), Quimby J(4), Robertson S(5), St Denis \nK(6), Tuzio H(7), Wright B(8).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)The Cat Clinic of Roswell, Roswell, GA, USA.\n(2)WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center, Garden City, ID, USA.\n(3)College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, \nPomona, CA, USA.\n(4)The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, \nColumbus, OH, USA.\n(5)Senior Medical Director, Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, Lutz, FL, USA.\n(6)Brantford, ON, Canada.\n(7)Forest Hills Cat Hospital, Middle Village, NY, USA.\n(8)Mistralvet, Johnstown, CO, USA.\n\nErratum in\n    J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Oct;23(10):NP4. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211040404.\n\nComment in\n    J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Jul;23(7):611. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211021537.\n\nThe '2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines' are authored by a Task Force of \nexperts in feline clinical medicine and serve as an update and extension of \nthose published in 2009. They emphasize the individual patient evaluation and \nthe process of aging, with references to other feline practice guidelines for a \nmore complete discussion of specific diseases. Focusing on each cat encourages \nand empowers the owner to become a part of the cat's care every step of the way. \nA comprehensive discussion during the physical examination and history taking \nallows for tailoring the approach to both the cat and the family involved in the \ncare. Videos and analysis of serial historical measurements are brought into the \nassessment of each patient. These Guidelines introduce the emerging concept of \nfrailty, with a description and methods of its incorporation into the senior cat \nassessment. Minimum database diagnostics are discussed, along with \nrecommendations for additional investigative considerations. For example, blood \npressure assessment is included as a minimum diagnostic procedure in both \napparently healthy and ill cats. Cats age at a much faster rate than humans, so \npractical timelines for testing frequency are included and suggest an increased \nfrequency of diagnostics with advancing age. The importance of nutrition, as \nwell as senior cat nutritional needs and deficiencies, is considered. Pain is \nhighlighted as its own syndrome, with an emphasis on consideration in every \nsenior cat. The Task Force discusses anesthesia, along with strategies to allow \naging cats to be safely anesthetized well into their senior years. The medical \nconcept of quality of life is addressed with the latest information available in \nveterinary medicine. This includes end of life considerations like palliative \nand hospice care, as well as recommendations on the establishment of 'budgets of \ncare', which greatly influence what can be done for the individual cat. \nAcknowledgement is given that each cat owner will be different in this regard; \nand establishing what is reasonable and practical for the individual owner is \nimportant. A discussion on euthanasia offers some recommendations to help the \nowner make a decision that reflects the best interests of the individual cat.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/1098612X211021538\nPMCID: PMC10812122\nPMID: 34167339 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n\nConflict of interest statement: Hazel Carney is a speaker for Royal Canin. \nJessica Quimby is a key opinion leader for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health \nUSA, Inc., Dechra, Elanco, Gallant Health Care, Heska, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, \nInc., IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Kindred Biosciences, Inc., Purina ProPlan \nVeterinary Diets, Royal Canin, and Zoetis Petcare. Sheilah Robertson acts \nvariously as a key opinion leader, speaker and consultant for Elanco, Zoetis \nPetcare, and Jurox. The other members of the Task Force have no conflicts of \ninterest to declare. [Image: see text]\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2021\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Jul;23(7):613-638. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211021538.\n\n2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines.\n\nRay M(1), Carney HC(2), Boynton B(3), Quimby J(\n\n### PMID:27370393 — Evaluating aging in cats: How to determine what is healthy and what is disease.\n- Source: J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):551-70. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649525.\n\nEvaluating aging in cats: How to determine what is healthy and what is disease.\n\nBellows J(1), Center S(2), Daristotle L(3), Estrada AH(4), Flickinger EA(5), \nHorwitz DF(6), Lascelles BD(7), Lepine A(8), Perea S(9), Scherk M(10), Shoveller \nAK(11).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)All Pets Dental, Weston, Florida, USA.\n(2)Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical \nSciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.\n(3)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA L Daristotle's current address is: The Blue Buffalo Co, Wilton, CT, USA.\n(4)University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small \nAnimal Clinical Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.\n(5)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA EA Flickinger's current address is: Kent Pet Group, 2905 N Hwy 61, \nMuscatine, IA, USA.\n(6)Veterinary Behavior Consultations, St Louis, MO, USA.\n(7)North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department \nof Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA.\n(8)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA.\n(9)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA Sally.Perea@royalcanin.com.\n(10)catsINK, Vancouver, BC, Canada.\n(11)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA AK Shoveller's current address is: Department of Animal BioSciences, \nUniversity of Guelph, ON, Canada.\n\nPRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Many of the changes that occur with aging are not \nconsidered pathologic and do not negatively affect overall wellness or quality \nof life. Ruling out disease is essential, however, when attempting to determine \nwhether an aged cat can be considered 'healthy'. A clear understanding of the \nnormal and abnormal changes that are associated with aging in cats can help \npractitioners make decisions regarding medical management, feeding interventions \nand additional testing procedures for their aged patients.\nCLINICAL CHALLENGES: It can be difficult to determine if a cat is displaying \nchanges that are appropriate for age. For example, healthy aged cats may have \nhematologic or serum biochemistry changes that differ from those of the general \nfeline population. Assessment of behavioral health and cognitive changes, as \nwell as auditory, olfactory and visual changes, can also be challenging in the \naged patient.\nGOALS: This is the second of two review articles in a Special Issue devoted to \nfeline healthy aging. The goals of the project culminating in these publications \nincluded developing a working definition for healthy aging in feline patients \nand identifying clinical methods that can be used to accurately classify healthy \naged cats. This second review proposes criteria for assessing 'healthy aged \ncats'.\nEVIDENCE BASE: There is a paucity of research in feline aging. The authors draw \non expert opinion and available data in both the cat and other species.\n\n© The Author(s) 2016.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/1098612X16649525\nPMCID: PMC10816674\nPMID: 27370393 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n\nConflict of interest statement: JB, SC, AHE, DFH, BDXL and MS all were paid for \ntheir contributions by Procter & Gamble Pet Care. LD, EAF, AL, SP and AKS have \nfinancial and personal interest in the Procter & Gamble Company; LD and EAF were \nemployees of the company at the time of coauthoring this review. SP is an \nemployee of Royal Canin, Mars Incorporated.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):551-70. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649525.\n\nEvaluating aging in cats: How to determine what is healthy and what is disease.\n\nBellows J(\n\n### PMID:27370392 — Aging in cats: Common physical and functional changes.\n- Source: J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):533-50. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649523.\n\nAging in cats: Common physical and functional changes.\n\nBellows J(1), Center S(2), Daristotle L(3), Estrada AH(4), Flickinger EA(5), \nHorwitz DF(6), Lascelles BD(7), Lepine A(8), Perea S(9), Scherk M(10), Shoveller \nAK(11).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)All Pets Dental, Weston, Florida, USA.\n(2)Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical \nSciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.\n(3)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA L Daristotle's current address is: The Blue Buffalo Co, Wilton, CT, USA.\n(4)University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small \nAnimal Clinical Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.\n(5)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA EA Flickinger's current address is: Kent Pet Group, 2905 N Hwy 61, \nMuscatine, IA, USA.\n(6)Veterinary Behavior Consultations, St Louis, MO, USA.\n(7)North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department \nof Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA.\n(8)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA.\n(9)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA Sally.Perea@royalcanin.com.\n(10)catsINK, Vancouver, BC, Canada.\n(11)The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, \nUSA AK Shoveller's current address is: Department of Animal BioSciences, \nUniversity of Guelph, ON, Canada.\n\nPRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Aged pets comprise a significant proportion of the small \nanimal veterinarian's patient population; in the USA, for example, it was \nestimated that over 20% of pet cats were 11 years of age or older in 2011. \nCertain changes associated with aging are neither positive nor negative, but \nothers are less desirable, associated with illness, changes in mobility or the \ndevelopment of unwanted behaviors. These changes can greatly affect the health \nand wellbeing of the cat and have a tremendous impact on the owner.\nCLINICAL CHALLENGES: Regular veterinary examinations are essential for \nevaluating the health of older patients and for providing owners with guidance \nregarding optimal care. With the exception of overt disease, however, it is \ndifficult to definitively determine if a cat is displaying changes that are \nappropriate for age or if they reflect an abnormal process or condition.\nGOALS: This is the first of two review articles in a Special Issue devoted to \nfeline healthy aging. The goals of the project culminating in these publications \nincluded developing a working definition for healthy aging in feline patients \nand identifying clinical methods that can be used to accurately classify healthy \naged cats. This first review provides a thorough, systems-based overview of \ncommon health-related changes observed in cats as they age.\nEVIDENCE BASE: There is a paucity of research in feline aging. The authors have \ndrawn on expert opinion and available data in both the cat and other species.\n\n© The Author(s) 2016.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/1098612X16649523\nPMCID: PMC10816677\nPMID: 27370392 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n\nConflict of interest statement: JB, SC, AHE, DFH, BDXL and MS all were paid for \ntheir contributions by Procter & Gamble Pet Care. LD, EAF, AL, SP and AKS have \nfinancial and personal interest in the Procter & Gamble Company; LD and EAF were \nemployees of the company at the time of coauthoring this review. SP is an \nemployee of Royal Canin, Mars Incorporated.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2016\n1. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jul;18(7):533-50. doi: 10.1177/1098612X16649523.\n\nAging in cats: Common physical and functional changes.\n\nBellows J(1), Center S(2), Daristot\n\n","sources":[],"tokens_estimated":3978,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}