Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs

Abstract Declining metabolic function with aging is a conserved phenotype across many species. While aging-associated changes in metabolic status have been investigated rigorously in humans, less is known about metabolic aging in dogs. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to examine changes in me...

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Main Authors: Brennen McKenzie, Matthew Peloquin, Jessica L. Graves, Frances Chen, Ashley Tovar, Tennery A. Carttar, Katya Tucker, Kenny Vo, Michelle Nelson, Kaitlyn M. Super, Jessica Austriaco, Sunny Y. Weber, Alexander Naka, Erin E. McCandless, Karen Greenwood, Dina Juarez-Salinas, Celine-Lea Halioua-Haubold, Ellen R. Ratcliff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89923-z
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author Brennen McKenzie
Matthew Peloquin
Jessica L. Graves
Frances Chen
Ashley Tovar
Tennery A. Carttar
Katya Tucker
Kenny Vo
Michelle Nelson
Kaitlyn M. Super
Jessica Austriaco
Sunny Y. Weber
Alexander Naka
Erin E. McCandless
Karen Greenwood
Dina Juarez-Salinas
Celine-Lea Halioua-Haubold
Ellen R. Ratcliff
author_facet Brennen McKenzie
Matthew Peloquin
Jessica L. Graves
Frances Chen
Ashley Tovar
Tennery A. Carttar
Katya Tucker
Kenny Vo
Michelle Nelson
Kaitlyn M. Super
Jessica Austriaco
Sunny Y. Weber
Alexander Naka
Erin E. McCandless
Karen Greenwood
Dina Juarez-Salinas
Celine-Lea Halioua-Haubold
Ellen R. Ratcliff
author_sort Brennen McKenzie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Declining metabolic function with aging is a conserved phenotype across many species. While aging-associated changes in metabolic status have been investigated rigorously in humans, less is known about metabolic aging in dogs. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to examine changes in metabolic health with age, and any associations with frailty and quality of life, in a diverse population of companion dogs. This cross-sectional study enrolled 451 mature, adult companion dogs. Serum adiponectin, ALP, ALT, AST, cholesterol, insulin, IGF-1 and glucose levels were quantified. Additionally, plasma FFA, SFA, PA, OA and LA were quantified in a 61 dog subpopulation. All analytes were significantly associated with age, with the exception of AST. Elevated ALP, ALT, cholesterol, insulin, FFA, PA and OA were correlated with increased frailty scores, while higher levels of glucose and adiponectin were correlated with reduced frailty scores. The strength of these associations increased with age. Higher ALP, ALT and insulin were associated with lower HRQL scores after adjusting for covariates. Our findings establish novel associations between deleterious aging-associated metabolic changes and validated measures of clinical well-being in companion dogs. Future research should investigate the causality of these associations to inform therapeutic strategies targeting age-associated changes to frailty and quality of life.
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spelling doaj-art-20cbdcb041d94c54acac83cee2f585e02025-08-20T02:13:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-89923-zChanges in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogsBrennen McKenzie0Matthew Peloquin1Jessica L. Graves2Frances Chen3Ashley Tovar4Tennery A. Carttar5Katya Tucker6Kenny Vo7Michelle Nelson8Kaitlyn M. Super9Jessica Austriaco10Sunny Y. Weber11Alexander Naka12Erin E. McCandless13Karen Greenwood14Dina Juarez-Salinas15Celine-Lea Halioua-Haubold16Ellen R. Ratcliff17Cellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncCellular Longevity IncAbstract Declining metabolic function with aging is a conserved phenotype across many species. While aging-associated changes in metabolic status have been investigated rigorously in humans, less is known about metabolic aging in dogs. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to examine changes in metabolic health with age, and any associations with frailty and quality of life, in a diverse population of companion dogs. This cross-sectional study enrolled 451 mature, adult companion dogs. Serum adiponectin, ALP, ALT, AST, cholesterol, insulin, IGF-1 and glucose levels were quantified. Additionally, plasma FFA, SFA, PA, OA and LA were quantified in a 61 dog subpopulation. All analytes were significantly associated with age, with the exception of AST. Elevated ALP, ALT, cholesterol, insulin, FFA, PA and OA were correlated with increased frailty scores, while higher levels of glucose and adiponectin were correlated with reduced frailty scores. The strength of these associations increased with age. Higher ALP, ALT and insulin were associated with lower HRQL scores after adjusting for covariates. Our findings establish novel associations between deleterious aging-associated metabolic changes and validated measures of clinical well-being in companion dogs. Future research should investigate the causality of these associations to inform therapeutic strategies targeting age-associated changes to frailty and quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89923-z
spellingShingle Brennen McKenzie
Matthew Peloquin
Jessica L. Graves
Frances Chen
Ashley Tovar
Tennery A. Carttar
Katya Tucker
Kenny Vo
Michelle Nelson
Kaitlyn M. Super
Jessica Austriaco
Sunny Y. Weber
Alexander Naka
Erin E. McCandless
Karen Greenwood
Dina Juarez-Salinas
Celine-Lea Halioua-Haubold
Ellen R. Ratcliff
Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
Scientific Reports
title Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
title_full Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
title_fullStr Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
title_full_unstemmed Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
title_short Changes in insulin, adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
title_sort changes in insulin adiponectin and lipid concentrations with age are associated with frailty and reduced quality of life in dogs
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89923-z
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