```html Research: Good Trainability Keeps Dogs Young ```

In a follow-up study, the effects of various factors on the change in the animals' telomeres were examined. These protective caps at the ends of chromosomes shorten less, the higher the trainability of the dogs is, report the researchers in the journal "PLOS One".

When cells divide, the DNA sections called "telomeres" at the ends of chromosomes become shorter. This shortening is associated with cell aging and reduced immune function. If the protective caps become too short, the cell stops dividing altogether. In humans, cognitive and social factors have already been linked to changes in telomeres in previous studies, but such connections have not been sufficiently researched in animals, according to the Vetmeduni.

Strong Connection Between Trainability and Telomere Change

A team led by Julia Weixlbraun from the Center for Biological Sciences at Vetmeduni has now shown a strong connection between the "trainability" of dogs and the change in telomeres. With trainability, the scientists measured in test situations how attentive the dogs were and how quickly they completed the given tasks.

The results suggest that "higher trainability positively influences telomere dynamics in aging dogs," according to Weixlbraun. "We were even able to observe an extension of the telomeres." Other factors such as age, gender, or diet are less important in this context.

The study also showed that trainability does not change with increasing age. For Weixlbraun, this suggests that "telomere dynamics in dogs depend more on a social trait like trainability than on age."

(APA/Red)

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