SIGNAL is a study at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center that aims to understand how the hormone insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) is related to cognitive health as dogs age.
First you and your dog would come in for fun treat searching cognition games!
The appointment usually takes about an hour, and is completed on campus at the University of Arizona.
The next step would be for your dog to get a blood draw so that we can quantify concentrations of IGF-1 in their body.
Blood draws will also be done on campus at the University Animal Care Center, and are facilitated by trained ACCC staff to ensure a positive experience for you and your dog (tasty treats provided)!
After a year, we would invite you and your dog to visit the lab again to play the same cognition games and do another blood draw.
This way, we can compare your dog's information to that of the prior year!