Cats with dementia share brain changes similar to humans with Alzheimer’s disease, offering a valuable model for studying the condition, according to a study on Tuesday. 

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the UK discovered a build-up of the toxic protein amyloid-beta in the brains of cats with the condition -- one of the defining features of Alzheimer’s disease.

Many older cats develop dementia, leading to behavioural changes such as increased vocalisation -- or meowing -- confusion and disrupted sleep -- symptoms similar to those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease.