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An introduction to Mindful Years: the next generation in canine cognitive support

  • By Callum Griffiths, Founder & Formulator

Published: Jul 22, 2026

My own journey with cognitive decline began long before I had the tools to do anything about it. I have witnessed up close what it asks, not only of the one affected, but of the family who walk beside them. The slow rearrangement of a shared life around confusion. The nights that stop being restful. The moment recognition hesitates. Anyone who has lived alongside it knows that the hardest part is not the ageing itself, but watching someone you love become lost in a world that used to be theirs.

 

Dogs age the same way we do; and in far greater numbers than most owners realise. Canine cognitive dysfunction is estimated to affect around one in three dogs over the age of eleven, and more than two in three by the age of fifteen. Yet it remains one of the most under-recognised conditions in veterinary medicine, because its early signs are so easily mistaken for "just getting old." Having spent a decade building Clydach Farm around one belief, that dogs deserve the same standard of nutrition we demand for ourselves, I knew the golden years were where that belief would be tested most.

Introducing the first of our Senior Series

Central to everything is the synapse, the junction where one brain cell speaks to another. A healthy brain maintains billions of these connections, and it is their density and speed that give an old dog his sharpness, his recall, his sense of where and who he is. Designed to serve a lifetime, these connections can weaken gradually as the brain ages: synapses are lost, the membranes that carry signals lose their integrity, and the brain's energy supply, always enormous relative to its size, begins to fall short of demand. Oxidative stress compounds the damage year on year.

When the mind whispers trouble

Any decline in these structures shows itself first in small ways: restlessness after dark as the sleep/wake cycle inverts; standing at the wrong side of a door; house training that slips after a lifetime of reliability; and hardest of all, a pause before recognising a face they have loved for years. The ripple effect extends well beyond the dog. Broken nights, anxious evenings and the quiet grief of being forgotten take a genuine toll on the families who care for them. Cognitive health doesn't just shape a dog's behaviour; it shapes their bond, their household's sleep, and their family's peace of mind.

The science behind Mindful Years

Ultimately, we felt the ageing canine brain deserved more. The current landscape of "senior support" products can feel, frankly, underwhelming: token doses of fashionable ingredients, hedge-your-bets herb lists, and formulas designed around a marketing story rather than a mechanism. Mindful Years was formulated the other way around: we started with the four ways the ageing brain fails, and built the formula to answer each one.

  • Memory and recognition

    At the heart of Mindful Years is Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate; the only form of magnesium proven to cross into the brain itself. Ordinary magnesium salts simply cannot reach the tissue that needs them. Once there, Magtein® promotes synaptic density: the physical connections on which memory formation and recognition depend.

  • Mental presence and responsiveness

    Synaptelyn®, a proprietary neuroactive nutrient complex, is designed to fuel energy availability directly at the synapse. An ageing brain is, above all, an energy-starved brain, and alertness and sharpness are the first casualties. At 532 mg per scoop, Synaptelyn® is the formulation's workhorse.

  • Synaptic structure and signal speed

    Phosphatidylserine and whole-cell Schizochytrium algae supply the essential brain lipids, including DHA, that defend neuronal membrane integrity, helping preserve the speed of cognitive processing and recall. We chose whole-cell algae deliberately: it is the same source the marine food chain is built on, delivered without the burden of fish oils.

  • Cellular protection and clarity. 

    Green tea catechins (EGCG), L-Carnitine and Alpha-Lipoic Acid provide targeted antioxidant and mitochondrial support, helping protect ageing brain cells from the oxidative stress associated with confusion. Alongside them, L-Tryptophan supports the calm and settled nights that so many families of senior dogs have quietly given up on.

Every active is included at a meaningful level, clearly printed on the tin, because we believe you should never have to take a formula on faith. Early changes are often seen in the first three to six weeks of consistent daily use, with the most significant and sustained benefits emerging over three months, as the nutrients accumulate where they are needed most.

 

Designed for the years that remain Mindful Years is not an attempt to turn back the clock, and we would never pretend otherwise. It is something more honest: nourishment for the ageing mind, so that the years that remain are lived with more presence, more recognition, and more peace. Calmer nights. Brighter days. One more season of being greeted at the door. 

It comes as a once-daily powder, sprinkled over the main meal with the engraved measuring scoop included in every tin. It is produced in small batches at our own facility in the Welsh countryside, with full traceability from raw ingredient to sealed tin. 

 

It joins the foods and supplements Clydach Farm has made for a decade, but it occupies a different place in our range and in our hearts: it is the first product we have made not for a dog's body, but for who they are. 

 

I believe the golden years are a privilege to be protected. 

 

Your oldest friend deserves the very best I can offer. And this is it. 

 

From my family, to yours, 

 

Callum Griffiths 

Founder & Formulator, 

Clydach Farm

Frequently Asked Questions

What is canine cognitive dysfunction?

Canine cognitive dysfunction, sometimes described as dog dementia, is an age-related decline in brain function. It can affect a dog’s memory, awareness, sleep patterns, behaviour, house training and ability to navigate familiar surroundings.

What are the early signs of cognitive decline in dogs?

Early signs can include: 

  • Restlessness, pacing or vocalising at night
  • Sleeping more during the day
  • Appearing confused in familiar places
  • Standing at the wrong side of a door
  • Becoming stuck behind furniture
  • Changes in interaction or responsiveness
  • House-training accidents
  • Increased anxiety or clinginess
  • Hesitating before recognising familiar people
  • Reduced interest in play, walks or normal routines

These changes can also be caused by other things such as hearing or sight loss, urinary problems and other medical conditions, so any new or unusual behaviour should be discussed with your vet.

At what age should I start giving Mindful Years?

Mindful Years has been developed for senior and ageing dogs. There is no single age at which every dog becomes a senior (as larger breeds tend to age earlier than smaller breeds), however as a general rule, we reccomend the product from ages 8+. It may be introduced when a dog enters their senior years or when subtle changes in memory, sleep, confidence or responsiveness first begin to appear.

How long will it take to see results?

When taken on a regular daily basis, most dogs will begin to show results within around 6 weeks. However, after the first 30 days, you may start to notice your dog's gut and digestive health appear healthy and normal.From month 3 onwards, continued use has never been more important. By following the correct directions and regular use, you'll be able to make sure your pup's gut and digestion stays healthy.

Does my dog need to have cognitive dysfunction to use it?

No. Mindful Years may be used proactively as part of an older dog’s daily nutritional routine, as well as for dogs already showing signs associated with cognitive ageing. 

 

It is not necessary to wait until changes become severe before supporting the ageing brain.

How does Mindful Years work?

Mindful Years was formulated around four important areas of brain ageing:

  1. Supporting memory-related synaptic connections
  2. Supporting energy availability within the brain
  3. Supplying structural lipids used by neuronal membranes
  4. Helping protect ageing brain cells from oxidative stress

It also contains L-Tryptophan to support calmness and settled behaviour, particularly where ageing has disrupted normal sleep patterns.

What is Synaptelyn®?

Synaptelyn® is a proprietary neuroactive nutrient complex included to support energy availability at the synapse, where brain cells communicate with one another. It is made from esterified fatty acids, that provide targeted energy substrates that reach the BBB (blood-brain-barrier). 

 

The groundbreaking innovation is produced by Clinigol Veterinary Science in the UK and Denmark.  

 

Each daily scoop of Mindful Years provides 532 mg.

What is Magtein®?

Magtein® is a patented form of magnesium L-threonate developed specifically for neurological availability. 

 

It is included in Mindful Years to support the synaptic connections involved in memory, learning and recognition.

 

Clydach Farm were the first company in Europe to use this active ingredient in dogs.

Why does Mindful Years contain algae rather than fish oil?

Mindful Years uses whole-cell Schizochytrium algae as a direct source of DHA-rich marine lipids. Algae sit at the beginning of the marine food chain and provide the same foundational fatty acids that ultimately accumulate in fish.

 

The whole-cell ingredient was chosen to support neuronal membrane structure without relying on a conventional fish-oil format.

What do phosphatidylserine and DHA do?

Phosphatidylserine and DHA are important structural components of brain-cell membranes. These membranes influence how efficiently signals move between cells and therefore play an important role in memory, recognition and cognitive processing.

How long does Mindful Years take to work?

Every dog is different. Early changes may become noticeable within approximately three to six weeks of consistent daily use. More gradual and sustained changes may emerge over three months as the nutrients are used and incorporated by the body.

 

Mindful Years should be given every day for the best opportunity to assess its effect.

What changes should I look for?

Owners may notice changes such as:

  • More settled nights
  • Less pacing or evening restlessness
  • Greater alertness during the day
  • Improved engagement with family members
  • More confidence in familiar surroundings
  • Better responsiveness to routines or cues
  • Fewer moments of apparent confusion

Improvements may be subtle at first. Keeping a short weekly diary can make gradual changes easier to recognise.

Can Mindful Years reverse canine cognitive dysfunction?

No supplement can promise to reverse brain ageing or restore a dog to their younger self. Mindful Years is designed to provide targeted nutritional support for the ageing brain, helping senior dogs maintain as much presence, engagement and quality of life as possible.

Is Mindful Years a veterinary medicine?

No. Mindful Years is a complementary feed supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure disease. 

 

Dogs showing new, significant or rapidly worsening behavioural changes should be examined by a vet.

Can it be used alongside veterinary medication?

It may be possible to use Mindful Years alongside other nutritional products or veterinary treatment, but owners should speak to their vet before combining supplements with medication, particularly where a dog has an existing medical condition.

How do I give Mindful Years?

Mindful Years is supplied as a powder and is designed to be sprinkled over your dog’s main meal once daily. An engraved measuring scoop is included in every tin.

 

Use the amount shown on the packaging for your dog’s size and give it consistently each day.

Can I mix it with wet and dry food?

Yes. The powder can be mixed into wet food or sprinkled over dry food. A small amount of water may be added to dry food to help the powder coat the meal more evenly.

Where is it made?

Mindful Years is produced in small batches at our Rhondda valleys facility in the Welsh countryside. Manufacturing the product ourselves gives us control over formulation, ingredient handling and traceability from raw material through to the sealed tin.

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Mindful Years® - Advanced Support for Cognitive Decline. 250g tin, up to 12 weeks' supply. Magtein® is a trademark of and is licensed exclusively by ThreoTech LLC. Synaptelyn® is a trademark of Clinigol Veterinary Science.
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