The Dog Aging Project will receive approximately $29 million in funding from the National Institute on Aging over the next five years. This support allows researchers to extend a nationwide long-term cohort study that tracks tens of thousands of companion dogs.
Since its launch in 2018, the project has enrolled nearly 55,000 dogs. Participating owners provide data regarding their pets' health, behavior, and daily lives. The new funding begins with a $6.1 million award for the first year.
It supports a nationwide team led by Dr. Daniel Promislow of Tufts University, which serves as the primary award recipient, and Dr. Kate Creevy of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
The study examines how genetics, nutrition, and home environments influence aging in dogs. Researchers aim to understand why some dogs remain healthy into old age while others do not. This data provides a model for understanding the biology of aging in humans, as dogs share similar environments and experience comparable age-related diseases.
Dr. Promislow stated that dogs offer a powerful window into human aging because they share our environments and face similar health challenges. He noted that identifying factors protecting cognitive and physical health could help both dogs and people live longer, healthier lives.
