Anxiety and task performance changes in an aging mouse model.

Due to the increasing focus on aging as an important risk factor for many serious diseases and an emphasis on animal models that have translational value, an increasing number of animal models are being aged. Animal behavior tests can be used to assess effects of aging in mouse models. Female mice begin exhibiting anxiety-like behaviors at 12 months of age which become more serious at 24 months, while males exhibit no age-induced anxiety-like behaviors. Males and females equally demonstrate a failure of daily task performance at 24 months. Despite these cognitive changes, the mice do not show changes in gross motor function. These results suggest cognitive impairment in non-genetically modified aging mice.