Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive disorder that typically presents as severe loss of memory, particularly of episodic memory. Non-human primate (monkeys) models have superior values to other laboratory animals for the research on this neurodegenerative disease because the close similarities of their neural system to humans. KBI readily has a large cohort of aged monkeys available for the screening of AD-related indications which can be compared to their junior counterparts in-house. 

KBI is well paced to evaluate the progression of AD and therapeutic effects on this ageing-related disease with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Facility specific for testing on cognitive functions in monkeys. We also have a monkey-specific maze for tests of learning and memory. 

KBI’s CANTAB Facility includes the following evaluation programs:

·  Object retrieval (OR)--non-CANTAB based

·  Stimuli-stimuli paired-associates learning (ssPAL)

·  Concurrent discrimination (CD)

·  Delayed matching to sample (DMTS)

·  Touch Training (TT)

KBI’s CANTAB Facility can be used for:  

·  Learning and memory functions evaluation

·  Dementia and cognitive dysfunction assessment

·  Efficacy evaluation of anti-AD drugs

Fig 1. Eight-channel Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery specific for cognitive testing in monkeys at KBI.

Biomarkers 

·  Aβ42 peptide and Tau protein in serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Brain Imaging

·  MRI structural evaluation for degenerative indications in relevant regions

·  PET-CT imaging for Aβ and Tau deposits