Variations in body condition score, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers predict cognitive changes in clinically healthy senior cats

TL;DR

This study shows that inflammation and metabolic markers in healthy senior cats can predict cognitive changes, suggesting early signs of aging-related issues.

Contribution

The study identifies specific biomarkers linked to cognitive aging in clinically healthy senior cats, supporting the concept of 'inflammaging'.

Findings

Higher body condition score and inflammation markers like IL-1β are linked to sleep-wake disturbances in aging cats.

Anxiety in cats is associated with increased body condition score and IL-10 levels.

Altered social behavior and house-soiling are significantly tied to increased body condition score.

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify immune, metabolic, and hematological biomarkers, among those commonly monitored in clinical practice, that are predictive of age-related behavioral and cognitive changes in clinically healthy elderly cats, with the objective of highlighting potential patterns of inflammaging.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at two veterinary institutions and involved 90 clinically healthy, privately owned domestic cats aged 7–16 years. All cats underwent physical examinations, laboratory, and behavioral screenings. Serum concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were measured using ELISA as markers of peripheral inflammation. Behavioral and cognitive changes were assessed using the Feline Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire and Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Rating Chart, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the association between behavioral and cognitive outcomes and immune, metabolic, and biochemical predictors (p < 0.05).

Significant associations were identified between immune, hematological, and metabolic phenotypes indicative of chronic inflammation and cognitive changes assessed using the FCDRS Sleep–wake cycle disturbances were strongly and positively predicted by increased body condition score (BCS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, white blood cells (WBCs), globulin, and IL-1β levels, and negatively predicted by albumin and neutrophils. Anxiety was positively associated with higher BCS, creatinine, and IL-10, and negatively associated with IL-1β. Activity levels were positively predicted by IL-10. Altered social interactions and house-soiling were significantly associated with increased BCS.

Findings suggest that changes in physiological parameters describing patterns of chronic inflammation are associated with measurable cognitive changes in aging cats, in the absence of overt clinical disease, which is consistent with the concept of inflammaging. Routine monitoring of standard bloodwork and BCS may offer an accessible means of tracking chronic subclinical inflammation and predicting cognitive aging in senior feline patients. These results highlight the importance of proactive cognitive screening and client education to preserve welfare and the human-animal bond in aging cats.

Figures