Speakers from the Mitochondria and the Metabolic Determinants of Aging and Longevity section of the  2023 Companion Animal Nutrition Summit answer questions related to their presentations. 

A brief review of age-related changes in the brain and how specific nutrients can support brain health in healthy senior dogs and those with cognitive dysfunction syndrome. 

An overview of changes in the gut microbiota composition across the lifespan of dogs and cats and the impact of those changes on microbiota functions. 

The role of renal aging and its central concept, cellular senescence, in the etiology of feline chronic kidney disease. 

Speakers from The Microbiome, the Gut and Brain Function section of the 2023 Companion Animal Nutrition Summit answer presentation-related questions. 

An overview of the relationship between gut and oral microbiomes and neurodegenerative diseases and whether microbiota manipulation can influence canine brain health.

A review of dietary management strategies to improve brain health, slow brain ageing, and help manage neurologic and cognitive disorders in dogs.

Through comparative geroscience and One Health approaches, companion animal medicine can inform and accelerate approval and widespread use of health span interventions to benefit companion animals and humans.

An overview of the relationship between the gut microbiota and age-related changes in the brain, including opportunities for microbiota-based interventions in brain ageing.

Biological clocks may enable pet health by detecting how and when aging occurs, allowing veterinarians to recommend dietary and lifestyle changes that promote a healthy lifespan for pets.

An update is provided on the investigation into the genetic and environmental determinants of healthy aging in companion dogs, including data collection, analysis, and identification of factors associated with age-related health outcomes.

Epigenetic clocks, used to predict biological age from DNA methylation data, are a promising research tool that may facilitate the translation of interventions from humans to pets and vice versa.