The present invention discloses a transgenic fly that expresses the
Italian mutant version of the human A.beta.42 peptide of human
amyloid-.beta. precursor protein (APP), and a double transgenic fly that
expresses both the Tau protein and the human A.beta.42.sub.Italian
peptide of human amyloid-.beta. precursor protein (APP). The transgenic
flies of the present invention provide for models of neurodegenerative
disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention further discloses
methods for identifying genetic modifiers, as well as screening methods
to identify therapeutic compounds to treat neurodegenerative disorders
using the transgenic flies.
