Rescued with Love foster carer Helen Brocker, with the forgetful Sooty. Photo: Ken Irwin

SCIENTISTS trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease are being urged to conduct trials on dogs with dementia.

Research into canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) or dog dementia – which has many similarities to Alzheimer’s disease – was an opportunity to bridge a gap in Alzheimer’s research, neuroscientist Dr Michael Valenzuela says.

Several trials of different medications that had worked on genetically modified mice bred to mimic Alzheimer’s failed when tested in human trials.