What is it about?
TgF344-AD rats carry two mutant genes associated with the early onset of Alzheimer's disease in humans, typically occurring before the age of 65. Our study reveals that these genes not only cause memory loss in rats but also unilateral spatial neglect, a condition shared with Alzheimer's patients that hinders their ability to pay attention to objects on one side of their body. Much like Alzheimer's patients, spatial neglect in rats was accompanied by neurodegeneration, primarily affecting one side of the brain. Having a rat model that not only possesses the same genes but also exhibits the same symptoms as Alzheimer's patients allows researchers to develop new therapies for this so far incurable disease.
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Perspectives
It was remarkable to see that a complex neurocognitive disorder can be modeled so closely in one of the earliest mammals. This project gives hope that Alzheimer's disease will affect fewer and fewer people.
Boriss Sagalajev
University Hospital Cologne
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: TgF344-AD Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: Spatial Disorientation and Asymmetry in Hemispheric Neurodegeneration, Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports, September 2023, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/adr-230038.
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