Stratégie de recherche translationnelle sur la maladie d'Alzheimer : modèles animaux et biomarqueurs

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is leading to severe cognitive alterations in humans and is associated to two main neuropathologic lesions: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. It also leads to functional alterations of cholinergic neurons. Imaging biomarkers can reveal the natural history of the disease and show an alteration of glucose metabolism and an evolving cerebral atrophy process. The development of new therapies against this disease relies on early stages involving animals and specific animal models have been developed to validate therapies modulating cholinergic alterations or amyloid load. Using biomarkers in these models can reveal animal endophenotypes that can be compared to human endophenotypes. Comparative studies of the effects of validated or candidate medicines on the endophenotypes of animal models and humans allow rationalizing decision-making on the basis of animal studies during the development of new therapies