In Vivo imaging of Alzheimer`s disease mouse models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. The neuropathological hallmarks of AD are extracellular deposits of the amyloid beta (Ab) peptide (amyloid plaques), intracellular accumulations of the tau protein (tangles) as well as neuronal death. The best correlate for the cognitive decline however is the loss of synapses, which is observed in AD patients and in animal models of the disease. In order to provide an effective therapy, it is essential to understand the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, using mouse models of Alzheimer`s disease, we visualize amyloid plaque development and the morphological neuronal changes associated with it in vivo with 2-photon microscopy.