The present invention is directed to a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) termed TgF344-19+/-. The invention rat overexpresses two human genes (APPswe and PS1deltaE9 genes), each of which are believed to be independent dominant causes of early-onset AD. The hemizygote exhibits major features of AD pathology (i.e., dense and diffuse amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hyperphosphorylated tau, paired-helical filaments, Hirano bodies, granulovacuolar degeneration, cognitive impairment, and cortical neuronal loss).

The rat included in this technology is superior to AD mice models because the rat has a larger sized brain to accommodate in vivo imaging studies and complex behavioral testing. Further, the invention rat has a longer life span so that studies of longer duration or studies involving serial sampling can be conducted. The invention rat can be used to evaluate potential treatments for AD and to further investigate AD physiology.