Dementia studied in a model: Characterization of an animal model of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of senile dementia in the elderly population. Up to now, the clear mechanisms remain elusive due to huge complexity and a lack of knowledge about the pathology. There is no therapy available at present, however there is an impelling need to establish reliable screening methods and therapeutic tools. The use of models for Alzheimer's disease and other challenging pathologies enables scientists to develop a better understanding about the etiology, to identify molecular markers and finally to develop therapeutic approaches. This talk comprises the characterization of a highly suitable animal model for Alzheimer's disease. Within a longitudinal study, neurological and motoric skills, cognition, metabolism and biochemistry were investigated and analysed in order to provide a basis for preclinical research and validated the characterized animal model as appropriate for further studies. status: confirmed