A rat model of pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease

The severity and time of onset of the prevalent sporadic type of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suggest a significant role of a patient-related external factor in the development of the disease. Chronic stress has been identified as an external factor in the development of AD. Exposure to chronic stress or stress hormone administration exacerbates the AD phenotype in both transgenic and non-transgenic animal models of the disease. We developed an innovative rat model that relates with ostensibly normal individuals who may develop AD. This chapter is a condensed recount of the findings we have published on the effect of chronic psychosocial stress in this “at-risk” rat model of AD. We utilized behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular studies to show that even mild psychosocial stress clearly converts this seemingly normal rat model to one with unmistakable AD symptoms.