title: Animal models of Alzheimer disease: historical pitfalls and a path forward.
abstract: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a medically and financially overwhelming condition, and incidence rates are expected to triple by 2050.Despite decades of research in animal models of AD, the disease remains incompletely understood, with few treatment options. This review summarizes historical and current AD research efforts, with emphasis on the disparity between preclinical animal studies and the reality of human disease and how this has impacted clinical trials. Ultimately, we provide a mechanism for shifting the focus of AD research away from animal models to focus primarily on human biology as a means to improve the applicability of research findings to human disease. Implementation of these alternatives may hasten development of improved strategies to prevent, detect, ameliorate, and possibly cure this devastating disease.
authors.affiliation: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Wash ington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pippin
authors.forename: Neal D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Barnard
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000266:history; D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors