Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease: Current Strategies and New Directions

Animal models constructed using pathogenic factors have significantly advanced drug development for Alzheimer's disease (AD). These predominantly transgenic models, mainly in mice, replicate pathological phenotypes through gene mutations associated with familial AD cases, thus serving as vital tools for assessing drug efficacy and for performing mechanistic studies. However, the species-specific differences and complex, heterogeneous nature of AD etiology pose considerable challenges for the translatability of these animal models, limiting their utility in drug development. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of widely employed rodent (mice and rats) and non-rodent models (