Animal Models of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a complex array of neuropathological, biochemical, and behavioral sequelae (Folstein and Whitehouse, 1983 ). AD is a recognized socioeconomic problem that has significant effects on a large percentage of an increasingly more aged population. Numerous experimental studies have been designed to investigate its etiology and possible pharmacotherapies for its treatment. Experimental animal models of AD are designed to reproduce a subset of the neuropathological, biochemical, and behavioral changes that have been identified in the brains of patients with AD. These animal models are, of course, inadequate because they do not completely reproduce all of the pathological and biochemical changes associated with AD; however, each model has been useful for the investigation of specific aspects of the disease. This chapter will outline the many experimental animal models of AD and compare the advantages and disadvantages of specific methodological approaches.