Advance Your Alzheimer’s Disease Studies with a Proven CRO Partner
Take a fresh approach to your Alzheimer’s disease research studies with optimized in vitro and in vivo models and assays that provide actionable data to drive your drug development from early discovery through late-stage preclinical. Start with any of our cell-based models, transgenic mouse models, aged rat and mouse models, and amnesia models, which display pathologies associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Keep going and breakthrough with our advanced platform of neuroscience translational tools and assays. From cognitive neuroscience studies to AD-associated pathology, our Alzheimer’s disease preclinical CRO services get the data you need to power your drug discovery.
Models and Tools for Alzheimer’s Disease Research Studies
5xFAD Mouse Model
Our most widely used model, the 5xFAD mouse is a transgenic Alzheimer’s model with five human mutations in APP and PSEN1 transgenes. This model displays cognitive decline, cerebral metabolism and blood flow changes, and significant amyloid pathology and neuroinflammation.
Tg2576 Mouse Model
Tg2576 is a transgenic mouse model that overexpresses the mutant form of APP. This model displays hyperactivity, impaired memory retention, and significant amyloid pathology at later ages.
PS19 (P301S) Mouse Model
PS19 is a transgenic tau mouse model that expresses the P301S mutant form of human MAPT. These mice display cognitive decline, changes in brain metabolism, and significant tau pathology.
Plan Your Next Study with Aged Mice
Charles River offers study-ready aged C57BL/6 mice up to 78+ weeks of age, supporting research in neurodegeneration, immunology, and age-related disease models. Learn More
Scopolamine-induced Amnesia Models
Disruption of cholinergic signaling with scopolamine leads to memory loss and cognitive changes in mice and rats.
Aged Rodents for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Aged mice and rats can be used to study the physiological process of aging and mild cognitive decline, a precursor to dementia. These models begin to exhibit cognitive, behavioral, and biochemical changes beginning at 19-20 months of age.
Exploratory Toxicology for Neuroscience Drug Discovery
This eBook describes strategies across the early stages of drug discovery to support confidence in your lead small molecule candidate and to ensure you proceed through the drug development process with the most promising candidate.
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In vitro cell models
Cell models are ideal for phenotypic screening and lead optimization studies. They can be as simple as treating primary neurons with amyloid to model Alzheimer’s pathology. Our offering includes primary mouse cells, post-mortem isolated primary human cells, human iPSC-derived cells, and innovative multi-cell models.
High-throughput Screening (HTS) Services
Comprehensive screening services, combined with the expertise of our scientists and medicinal chemists, generate a tailored HTS offering that delivers decision-making data for your Alzheimer’s drug discovery.
Curated Neuroscience Compound Library
The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) small molecule library contains over 158,000 compounds, curated based on CNS lead-like properties to support the development of new, disease-modifying neuroscience therapies.
High Content Imaging
Multiplexing, automated fluorescence microscopy, and proprietary algorithms enable measurement and monitoring of phenotypic changes in response to drug treatment at a subcellular level.
Disease-relevant Stem Cell Models
Through a partnership with bit.bio, we offer robust disease-relevant cell models, including neurons and microglia harboring Alzheimer’s-related mutations, for use in phenotypic screening and efficacy studies.
Cell and Slice Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology studies directly measure neuronal function, detect disease-related abnormalities, and determine drug effects. Our scientists are experts in automated patch clamp screening, single-cell patch clamp recordings, and multi-electrode arrays to support your lead optimization and in vitro efficacy investigations.
Neuroinflammation Assays
Neuroinflammation is a key pathology in Alzheimer’s disease and a target of drug development. Assess the efficacy of your therapeutics in assays measuring phagocytosis, inflammasome activation, and cytokine release in rodent or human primary microglia, human iPSC-derived microglia, and mixed glia/neuron cultures.
CNS Drug Delivery
Getting your therapeutic to its site of action in the brain is a key part of neuroscience drug discovery. It is particularly of concern for large molecules like antibodies and RNA therapeutics. We can provide advice on the most appropriate route for your drug.
Behavior Tests
Confirm the efficacy of your novel therapeutics with rodent behavior tests to investigate activity and locomotion, memory formation, consolidation and retention, and anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors.
Rodent Imaging
Imaging techniques like MRI, MRS, and functional ultrasound allow repeated, noninvasive measurements of changes in brain volume, neurometabolic activity, neuroinflammation, and cerebrovasculature. With the support of our expert team, you can get predictive and translational data for your drug discovery.
PET & SPECT Imaging
PET and SPECT imaging are versatile and translational imaging techniques that use radio-labeled ligands to detect and quantify changes in metabolism, neuroinflammation, perfusion, and target receptor occupancy.
Microdialysis and Sample Analysis
Microdialysis, a minimally invasive sampling technique, enables continuous measurement of analytes for efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and distribution studies. Our experts constantly develop new analytical methods for neurotransmitters, endogenous proteins, compounds, and therapeutic large molecules.
Biomarkers
Determining biomarkers and how they will be measured is vital to successful drug discovery. In Alzheimer’s disease, neuroinflammation, amyloid pathology, and neurodegeneration can serve as disease biomarkers and be assessed through gene and protein analysis.
Validated Neuroscience Cellular & Animal Models
Choosing the wrong model can set your program back by months. This quick-reference portfolio helps you identify the most predictive cell and animal systems for neuroscience research across neurodegeneration, mental disorders, neuromuscular diseases, pain, brain injury and rare diseases so you can move forward with greater clarity, faster.
Explore Cell and Animal Neuroscience Models
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Alzheimer's Disease Research
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Are there non-rodent models available for Alzheimer’s disease research studies?
Large animals have been used to assess cognition using touchscreen technologies. Either aged or scopolamine-treated animals (to impair cognition) are used for touchscreen and biomarker assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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Is there a benefit to using the radial arm water maze instead of the standard reference Morris water maze in Alzheimer’s disease research?
No. One test does not have a significant benefit over the other and both tests are run routinely.
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For electrophysiology studies related to Alzheimer’s disease research, which parameters would you recommend be investigated?
We suggest not only looking at long-term potentiation but also at the amplitude of basal synaptic transmissions. In Alzheimer’s disease models, the basal synaptic transmission tends to get disrupted, making it easier to detect those changes compared to long-term potentiation changes.
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Is it necessary to have a high sample number in Alzheimer’s disease research studies to address the variability that can cause an impact on statistical significance in drug testing studies?
No. In multiple blind studies, we have found similar results in small and large groups of mice.
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Does Charles River offer study-ready research animal models for aging studies?
Yes, we maintain colonies of aged C57BL/6 mice (up to 78+ weeks of age) for various age-related and neuroscience research applications. We can also offer other rodent models upon request.