Transgenic mouse models with tau pathology to test therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.

The deposit of two proteins in the brain characterizes Alzheimer's disease: deposits of beta-amyloid protein to form senile plaques and tau protein in neurofibrillary tangles. This review discusses transgenic animals overexpressing normal or mutated tau protein as well as kinases involved in tau hyperphosphorylation. These animals hold a great potential as tools to test the effects of forthcoming therapeutical agents for Alzheimer's disease.