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(1)
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Age-related changes in the central and peripheral nervous sys(CNS and PNS)
are responsible for many of the physioloand behavioural changes commonly associated
with advancing age and senility.
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(2)
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Many of the age-related degenerative CNS changes reported to occur in humans
are believed by veterinary neurologists to occur in dogs and cats but they
have been poorly documented.
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(3)
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In decision making about treatment and prognosis it is important to relate
observed neurological changes to the site of the underlesion. For example,
it is important to differentiate upper motor neuron deficits from lower motor
neuron deficits in patients with locomotor disease.
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(4)
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The onset of seizures in old animals should promote a search for extracranial
causes (e.g. hepatic disease) and for structural lesions in the CNS (e.g. brain
tumours).
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(5)
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Old patients requiring anticonvulsant therapy for seizures should be screened
for liver disease and should be monitored for early detection of hepatotoxicity.
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(6)
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Neuroendocrine disorders are probably much more common in old animals than
is currently recognised clinically.
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(7)
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The process of ageing may be a manifestation of a failure to regulate neuroendocrine
function or ageing may be dependent upon neuroendocrine regulation running
in parallel with other temporal factors the so-called genetic 'programming',
'clock' or pacemaker' theory.
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(8)
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Regular exercise is an important stimulator of neuroendocrine function and
should be maintained throughout old age.
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