Generation of sophisticated Alzheimer’s disease mouse models and research advances utilizing them

Experimental animal models play an essential role in the study of pathogenic mechanisms and development of novel therapies for diseases. Many disease models are developed by introducing genetic factors and environmental factors of disease onset through drug administration, surgery, or genetic modification that results in disease phenotypes. In addition, higher animals such as non-human primates are useful for investigating diseases whose phenotypes cannot be produced in mice, etc. In monkeys, some strains have diseases similar to humans by spontaneous onset, as a result of repeated generational changes over time. Disease models must have high reproducibility, extrapolation to humans, and applicability. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the development of mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and the studies that utilize them.