The Dog Aging Project is a large-scale, long-term observational study dedicated to understanding the aging process in companion dogs. Its overarching goal is to promote healthy longevity, focusing on extending the period of life spent in good health, known as healthspan. The project involves tens of thousands of dogs across the United States, gathering data on their health, environment, and lifestyle. Its findings benefit both canine and human health, as dogs share many aging characteristics and environments with their human companions.
Core Objectives
The project seeks to uncover factors influencing healthy aging in dogs. Researchers identify genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors contributing to a longer, healthier life. A primary focus is understanding age-related diseases in dogs, many mirroring human conditions like cancer, diabetes, and cognitive decline.
The project emphasizes maximizing “healthspan.” By pinpointing factors that extend this healthy period, the project intends to develop interventions that can delay or reduce the impact of age-related decline. This includes exploring how diet, exercise, and social environments interact with an individual dog’s biology to shape its aging trajectory.
Research Methodologies
The project employs a robust scientific approach, leveraging a large cohort of companion dogs in their home environments. The study is longitudinal, meaning dogs are followed over extended periods, often for ten years or more, allowing researchers to observe changes as they age. This long-term monitoring provides insights into aging progression.
Data collection is central to the project, including annual owner surveys on their dog’s health, behavior, environment, and physical activity. Veterinary records provide objective health information. Additionally, the project collects biological samples (DNA, blood, urine, hair) for analysis of genetics, epigenetics, and metabolism. A key component of the research is the Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD) clinical trial, investigating the effects of rapamycin, a drug shown to extend lifespan in mice, on canine health and aging. These data types are integrated to identify patterns and generate insights into the aging process.
Potential Discoveries and Benefits
The research conducted by the Dog Aging Project is expected to yield significant discoveries. Findings could advance veterinary medicine, providing new diagnostic tools and treatments for age-related diseases in dogs. Understanding biological and environmental factors influencing canine longevity allows veterinarians to offer evidence-based recommendations for healthy aging in pets.
Insights from studying aging in dogs also translate to human health. Dogs experience many similar age-related diseases as humans and share our living environments, making them a valuable model for geroscience research. The project aims to identify interventions that could improve healthspan for both dogs and humans. Practical advice for dog owners on nutrition, exercise, and environmental factors for healthy longevity is another benefit.
How Dog Owners Can Participate
Dog owners interested in contributing to this research can enroll their dogs by visiting the Dog Aging Project website. The initial step involves completing a survey with basic information about the owner and dog. All dogs in the fifty U.S. states are welcome, regardless of age, breed, size, or health status, provided owners have a good age estimate.
Participation involves completing an annual online Health and Life Experience Survey, taking approximately 60-90 minutes. Owners may also be invited to optional activities, such as submitting veterinary records or collecting biological samples. While the main study is observational, some dogs might be eligible for specific cohorts or clinical trials, such as the TRIAD study, which have specific eligibility criteria. Contributing to the project helps advance scientific understanding and benefits future generations of dogs and humans.