Mouse For Alzheimer's Disease

About

About Degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are typically diagnosed after someone starts to experience symptoms. In the case of Alzheimer’s, where memory loss and confusion are common indicators of the disease, by the time the symptoms arise the disease is already well-established with loss of neural function in the brain. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s and there is no reliable test to identify Alzheimer’s or similar conditions when they are in their very early, pre-symptomatic stages. With an aging population, diseases like Alzheimer’s are increasing in prevalence putting significant pressure on healthcare systems. An innovative approach is required to transform early diagnosis of disease and to drive the discovery of effective therapeutics. In degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, oxidative stress (OS) in a cell is a common indication of damage, where levels of OS increase as the disease progresses. Researchers at the University of Dundee have established a novel transgenic mouse model to detect OS as an early indicator of disease. By monitoring these biomarkers of OS in real time via in vivo imaging they can characterise the progression of disease. The researchers establish a next generation, high sensitivity mouse model for a given disease by crossing an OS reporter mouse with a disease model mouse, allowing early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions to be tested at a pre-symptomatic stage. This is a powerful tool for pre-clinical drug discovery with potential applications in a range of degenerative conditions including cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Key Benefits Next generation mouse models with increased sensitivity Biomarkers for early diagnosis of disease Applications For use in Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and related degenerative conditions IP Status This technology is protected by patent application (GB 1609238.9).