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==Overview==
==Overview==
Feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD) leads to an overall progressive decline in cognitive function and increase in brain pathology<ref name="Landsberg">Landsberg GM, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. The effects of aging on the behavior of senior pets. In: Handbook of behavior problems of the dog and cat. 2nd edn. Oxford; Saunders,2003: 269–304.</ref><ref>Milgram NW, Head E, Weiner E, Thomas E. Cognitive functions and aging in the dog: acquisition of non spatial visual tasks. Behav Neurosci1994; 108:57–68.</ref><ref>Cummings BJ, Satou T, Head E, et al. Diffuse plaques contain C-terminal A beta 42 and not A beta 40: evidence from cats and dogs. Neurobiol Aging1996; 17:653–59</ref><ref>Cummings BJ, Head E, Afagh AJ, Milgram NW, Cotman CW. Beta-amyloid accumulation correlates with cognitive dysfunction in the aged canine. Neurobiol Learn Mem1996; 66:11–23</ref><ref>Tapp PD, Siwak CT, Gao FQ, et al. Frontal lobe volume, function, and beta-amyloid pathology in a canine model of ageing. J Neurosci2004; 24: 8205–13.</ref><ref>Borras D, Ferrer I, Pumarola M. Age related changes in the brain of the dog. Vet Pathol 1999; 36:202–11.</ref><ref>Colle M-A, Hauw J-J, Crespau F, et al. Vascular and parenchymal beta-amyloid deposition in the aging dog: correlation with behavior. Neurobiol Aging 2000; 21:695–704.</ref><ref>Salvin HE, McGreevy PD, Sachev PS, Valenzuela MJ. Underdiagnosis of canine cognitive dysfunction; a cross-sectional survey of older companion dogs. Vet J 2010; 184:277–81.</ref>.
Feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD) leads to an overall progressive decline in cognitive function and increase in brain pathology<ref name="Landsberg">Landsberg GM, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. The effects of aging on the behavior of senior pets. In: Handbook of behavior problems of the dog and cat. 2nd edn. Oxford; Saunders,2003: 269–304.</ref><ref>Milgram NW, Head E, Weiner E, Thomas E. Cognitive functions and aging in the dog: acquisition of non spatial visual tasks. Behav Neurosci1994; 108:57–68.</ref><ref>Cummings BJ, Satou T, Head E, et al. Diffuse plaques contain C-terminal A beta 42 and not A beta 40: evidence from cats and dogs. Neurobiol Aging1996; 17:653–59</ref><ref>Cummings BJ, Head E, Afagh AJ, Milgram NW, Cotman CW. Beta-amyloid accumulation correlates with cognitive dysfunction in the aged canine. Neurobiol Learn Mem1996; 66:11–23</ref><ref>Tapp PD, Siwak CT, Gao FQ, et al. Frontal lobe volume, function, and beta-amyloid pathology in a canine model of ageing. J Neurosci2004; 24: 8205–13.</ref><ref>Borras D, Ferrer I, Pumarola M. Age related changes in the brain of the dog. Vet Pathol 1999; 36:202–11.</ref><ref>Colle M-A, Hauw J-J, Crespau F, et al. Vascular and parenchymal beta-amyloid deposition in the aging dog: correlation with behavior. Neurobiol Aging 2000; 21:695–704.</ref><ref>Salvin HE, McGreevy PD, Sachev PS, Valenzuela MJ. Underdiagnosis of canine cognitive dysfunction; a cross-sectional survey of older companion dogs. Vet J 2010; 184:277–81.</ref>. This can affect memory, capacity for learning, awareness and visual and audio perception. It can lead to various symptoms including disturbance in sleep patterns, a reduction in activity, confusion. Past learned habits become forgotten, for example the location of food and water and litter boxes and cats suffer from an increased level of anxiety and inclination to behave aggressively. Social relationships with both other animals and humans can also be affected. In general FCD is less frequently reported in cats than dogs. It is thought that FCD affects 50% of cats over fifteen years old and approximately 28% between the ages of eleven and fourteen<ref>Landsberg, G.M., Denenberg, S., Araujo, J.A., 2010. Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats: A Syndrome we Used to Dismiss as 'Old Age'. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12: 837</ref>. Although clinical signs in cats generally seem to become evident at around ten to eleven years old, neurone in the caudate nucleus start to show functional changes by six-seven years of age<ref>Levine MS, Lloyd RL, Fisher RS, Hull CD, Buchwald NA. Sensory, motor and cognitive alterations in aged cats. Neurobiol Aging 1987; 8: 253–63</ref><ref>Levine MS, Lloyd RL, Hull CD, Fisher RS, Buchwald NA. Neurophysiological alterations in caudate neurons in aged cats. Brain Res 1987; 401:213–30</ref><ref>Harrison J, Buchwald J. Eyeblink conditioning deficits in the old cat. Neurobiol Aging 1983; 4:45–51</ref>.
This can affect memory, capacity for learning, awareness and visual and audio perception. It can lead to various symptoms including disturbance in sleep patterns, a reduction in activity, confusion. Past learned habits become forgotten, for example the location of food and water and litter boxes and cats suffer from an increased level of anxiety and inclination to behave aggressively. Social relationships with both other animals and humans can also be affected. In general FCD is less frequently reported in cats than dogs. It is thought that FCD affects 50% of cats over fifteen years old and approximately 28% between the ages of eleven and fourteen<ref>Landsberg, G.M., Denenberg, S., Araujo, J.A., 2010. Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats: A Syndrome we Used to Dismiss as 'Old Age'. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12: 837</ref>. Although clinical signs in cats generally seem to become evident at around ten to eleven years old, neurone in the caudate nucleus start to show functional changes by six-seven years of age<ref>Levine MS, Lloyd RL, Fisher RS, Hull CD, Buchwald NA. Sensory, motor and cognitive alterations in aged cats. Neurobiol Aging 1987; 8: 253–63</ref><ref>Levine MS, Lloyd RL, Hull CD, Fisher RS, Buchwald NA. Neurophysiological alterations in caudate neurons in aged cats. Brain Res 1987; 401:213–30</ref><ref>Harrison J, Buchwald J. Eyeblink conditioning deficits in the old cat. Neurobiol Aging 1983; 4:45–51</ref>.
==Signs and Diagnosis==
==Signs and Diagnosis==
A complete medical and behavioural history is essential for the accurate diagnosis of FCD, this is especially important in older animals. This should be accompanied by a laboratory work up, as well as a thorough physical examination with special consideration of neurological conditions. As with all behavioural disorders it is important to ensure that any medical causes for unusual behaviour are ruled out. Medical conditions which could cause behaviour similar to that of FCD include:
A complete medical and behavioural history is essential for the accurate diagnosis of FCD, this is especially important in older animals. This should be accompanied by a laboratory work up, as well as a thorough physical examination with special consideration of neurological conditions. As with all behavioural disorders it is important to ensure that any medical causes for unusual behaviour are ruled out. Medical conditions which could cause behaviour similar to that of FCD include:
*Arthritis
*Arthritis