How are alzeihmer tests done on rats?

[hitmankratos]

Hey everyone,

 

I was wondering, with all the alzeihmer research going on, how can they test something on rats? Is it by injecting them whatever they want with a special technique?

How does it work for these kind of tests?

[Mokele]

They genetically engineer rats to exhibit Alzheimer's, then try whatever treatment they like.

[hitmankratos]

How can they tell is the rat is getting any better?

[insane_alien]

because it would stop exhibiting signs of alzheimers.

[Mokele]

Well, actually, they'd tell by cutting up its brain (Alzheimers is associated with distinctive plaque structures in the brain). That's why rats are so useful - they progress through the diseases fast (due to short lifespan), can be reared in controlled identical environments, can be as close to genetically identical as possible, and, most importantly, can be killed in order to perform more invasive tests. None of these are possible with humans.