Dog Aging Project
- Dr Swati Lodha
- May 30, 2021
- 2 min read
Research over long time periods is carried on to make observations, study findings and establish conclusions. How changes in lifestyles, environment, genes, medical inventions are impacting our lifespan and healthspan – is a question that several research projects are eager to answer.
Various institutes of aging research have been conducting studies with continuous or repeated monitoring of different variables and health outcomes. Mice have been their ‘go to’ species to try out different findings. However, University of Washington has initiated an innovative and most ambitious canine health study in the world. Spread over ten years, this DOG AGING PROJECT aims at understanding how genes, lifestyle and environment influence aging so that the conclusions can be used for people as well to increase healthspan.
Dogs have been chosen to study different aspects of human aging as they share many genetic markers and diseases with humans. Moreover, dogs have such large spectrum of different breeds, shapes and sizes that a study of dogs can accomplish far more than a study of humans over a few years.
The dog owner participants in the study send a swab from the inside of a dog’s mouth which is used for sequencing his genome. The researchers wish to find out which genes affect which traits, which gene is responsible for a certain disease or a certain behaviour. The dog’s environment – air and water quality, pesticide use, living in a hardwood or carpeted home – will also be researched to find about their overall health.
4% to 5% of the participating will also be a part of clinical study to test Rapamycin – a drug proven to better a healthy lifespan.
Started in 2019, the innovative and ambitious study is all set to help humans understand healthy aging and longevity. Who knew that dogs could help humans in such myriad ways.
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