Chapter 5.8 Transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. The history of the transgenic modeling of Alzheimer's disease illustrates how difficult it can be to model a seemingly straightforward disease. It is expected that over-expression of either normal APP (to model Down's associated AD) or mutant APP (to model the familial AD cases)can lead to the Aft elevation and deposition into plaques, the formation of pathogenic tau and tangles, cell damage, neuro-degeneration and concomitant cognitive impairment. Although there are reports of associated cell damage and cognitive impairment in these mice, further work is required to fully illustrate the extent and significance of these changes. The chapter illustrates that it is not important to achieve the full behavioral and histopathological phenotype in mice to successfully help humans and the mysteries of why mice fail to develop NFTs or undergo extensive neuro-degeneration like their human counter parts may become academic.