The present invention discloses a transgenic fly that expresses the Arctic
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.Arctic 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.