Your Dog's Brain Health: What the Latest Research Says and What You Can Do About It

We are sharing this because we believe informed guardians make better decisions, and better decisions lead to better outcomes for the animals we love. Canine cognitive health is an area where important research is rapidly emerging, and we want to ensure you have access to it. While we will mention which Right:Ratio product may be relevant toward the end of this post, that is not our primary goal. Our purpose is to provide the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to show up for your dog in the best way possible.

If your dog has started hesitating at the top of the stairs, staring at walls, or wandering through familiar rooms as if they have forgotten their purpose, you are not imagining it. These changes are not simply an inevitable part of old age.

Cognitive decline in dogs is one of the most common yet least discussed conditions in veterinary medicine. Most guardians never have a formal conversation about it, even when their dog is already being treated for other issues. If your dog is managing arthritis, anxiety, or cancer and brain health has never been raised during a veterinary visit, that is understandable. It is an area where clinical guidance is still catching up, and this information is here to help bridge that gap.

What cognitive dysfunction syndrome actually is

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition in dogs that closely mirrors Alzheimer's disease in humans. It involves physical changes in the brain including the buildup of abnormal proteins, loss of neurons, and increased oxidative damage, all of which gradually affect memory, awareness, and behavior.

It is significantly underdiagnosed, in part because the early signs are easy to explain away. A dog who is a little slower to recognize you, a little more restless at night, a little less interested in play, those changes can feel like normal aging. They are not always. And the difference matters, because the earlier you start supporting brain health, the more impact it has.

For cats, our understanding of cognitive dysfunction is still catching up. The condition exists and is likely underdiagnosed even more than in dogs, but validated screening tools and clinical guidelines are less established. If you have a senior cat showing behavioral changes, it is worth raising with your veterinarian even without a formal framework to work from.

The screening your dog should already be getting

In April 2026, a working group of veterinary neurologists, behaviorists, and researchers published the first formal guidelines for diagnosing and monitoring canine cognitive dysfunction in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Their recommendation: cognitive screening should begin at age seven and happen every six to twelve months. From age ten onward, every six months is recommended for all dogs, regardless of whether signs are present.

Most dogs that age have never been screened once.

The tool they recommend for routine use is called the DISHAA. It stands for Disorientation, Interactions, Sleep, House soiling, Activity, and Anxiety, which are the six behavioral areas most commonly affected by cognitive decline. It is a questionnaire designed to be completed by you at home, based on what you observe day to day, which is actually a significant advantage to a single evaluation in time performed by your veterinarian. The DISHAA is not meant to be completed once. Its real value comes from tracking changes over time. A score that creeps up across several months tells a clearer story than any single snapshot.

Another tool worth knowing about is the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating scale, or CCDR. It is used more commonly in research settings but is also available for guardian use. Both tools ask similar questions about your dog's behavior across the same domains. If you find one easier to use consistently, that is the right one for you.

The working group is clear that these questionnaires are not standalone diagnostic tools. They are a starting point for a conversation with your veterinarian, and a way to document what you are observing at home so that information does not get lost between appointments.

A question worth raising with your veterinarian about gabapentin

Gabapentin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for older dogs. It is used for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and anxiety, and it is a reasonable medication with genuine therapeutic uses. What follows is not a reason to stop anything your veterinarian has prescribed. It is a question worth bringing to that conversation.

Two studies published in 2025 have raised concerns about long-term gabapentin use and cognitive function. The first, a large human study, found that adults prescribed six or more courses of gabapentin had a meaningfully higher rate of dementia diagnosis over ten years compared to those not prescribed the drug, with the association most pronounced in adults between ages 35 and 64. The second, a preclinical study from Massachusetts General Hospital, found that long-term gabapentin treatment in aged mice produced measurable memory impairment along with changes in brain tissue associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Both studies note their limitations, and neither establishes causation. But together they point toward a concern that is directly relevant to older dogs already at risk for cognitive decline.

The clinical question worth sitting with is this: when a senior dog begins showing disrupted sleep or nighttime restlessness, which are classic early signs of CDS, and gabapentin is prescribed to manage those symptoms, are we providing relief, or are we potentially compounding the underlying issue? We do not have a definitive answer yet. But it deserves to be part of the conversation.

What your vet may not mention, but genuinely helps

Conventional veterinary medicine has one FDA-approved medication for CDS in dogs: selegiline. Your veterinarian may recommend it, and it is worth discussing if your dog has a formal diagnosis. What follows are the tools that often do not come up in that appointment, but that have real evidence behind them.

Exercise. Physical activity is one of the most powerful drivers of neurogenesis, the birth of new brain cells, particularly in the hippocampus, the region most responsible for memory and learning. It works by increasing a protein called BDNF, which acts essentially as a growth factor for neurons.

Mental enrichment. Exercise creates new neurons. Mental challenge is what keeps them alive. Puzzle feeders, scent work, training games, and novel experiences drive the formation of new connections between neurons. The research is clear that the combination of exercise and mental stimulation is more powerful than either alone. 

MCT oil. As the brain ages, its ability to use glucose as fuel declines. MCT oil provides an alternative fuel source in the form of ketones, which aging neurons can use efficiently even when glucose metabolism is impaired. There is published veterinary evidence specifically supporting MCT supplementation for dogs with CDS, and it is generally well tolerated.

Phosphatidylserine. A natural component of brain cell membranes, phosphatidylserine supports neuronal communication and has been studied for cognitive support in aging dogs with encouraging results. It is one of the more targeted options in this space.

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine). SAMe supports multiple neurological pathways including neurotransmitter production and cellular repair. It is one of the more studied nutraceuticals for cognitive support in dogs and is generally well tolerated across age groups.

Lion's mane mushroom. Contains compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor production, a protein that supports the survival and function of neurons. The veterinary evidence base is still growing but the mechanism is well established and the safety profile is favorable.

Astaxanthin and CoQ10. Oxidative stress is a central feature of neurodegeneration. Astaxanthin is among the most potent antioxidants with demonstrated ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it particularly relevant for brain health. CoQ10 supports mitochondrial function in neurons. Both are reasonable additions to a brain health protocol.

Ginkgo biloba. Supports cerebral blood flow and has antioxidant properties relevant to cognitive aging. One of the more studied botanical options in this space and generally well tolerated in dogs.

An important note if your dog is on selegiline

If your dog has been prescribed selegiline, please speak with your veterinarian before adding any cannabinoid product. Selegiline is an MAO-B inhibitor and there are known interaction concerns with cannabinoid medicines. This is a straightforward conversation to have and your veterinarian will be able to guide you, but it is an important one before starting N:1 or any other cannabinoid supplement.

Where cannabinoids fit in

Your dog's endocannabinoid system is deeply woven into how the brain functions. The receptors that respond to cannabinoids are among the most abundant in the brain, and the endocannabinoid system plays a documented role in neuroprotection, managing neuroinflammation, and supporting the health of synaptic connections, all of which are directly relevant to cognitive aging.

CBD has well-documented neuroprotective properties. It also supports the gut-brain axis, the communication pathway between the digestive system and the brain, which means that reducing intestinal inflammation through endocannabinoid support has a genuine positive effect on brain health. These systems are more connected than most people realize, and supporting one meaningfully supports the other.

Right:Ratio's N:1 is our neurologic support formulation, developed specifically with brain and nervous system health in mind. For dogs entering the age range where proactive brain support becomes worthwhile, or those already showing early signs of CDS, N:1 offers a cannabinoid foundation that works with the brain's own regulatory systems rather than around them.

The bottom line

Cognitive dysfunction is underdiagnosed and under-supported. But it is not unmanageable, and it is not inevitable. The most important thing you can do is start paying attention before significant signs appear, use the DISHAA to establish a baseline, and build a support protocol that goes beyond what a single vet appointment typically covers.

Whether you choose Right:Ratio's N:1 or another cannabinoid product designed specifically for neurological support, what matters most is that you have the right information to advocate for your dog. That is what this blog is for. Our goal is to be a resource you can trust, not simply a brand asking for your business.

If your dog is seven or older and cognitive health has never come up at a visit, bring it up. Not because something is necessarily wrong, but because starting the conversation now is the best thing you can do for what comes next.

Author: Dr. Lindsey Wendt, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CCRT