The invention provides a transgenic non-human animal expressing a perlecan encoding transgene. Also provided is a double-transgenic non-human animal expressing a perlecan and an amyloid encoding transgene. A method of screening for a compound which alters the rate or extent of amyloid deposition is additionally provided. The method consists of: (a) constructing a perlecan transgenic animal; (b) administering an effective amount of a test compound to said perlecan transgenic animal; and (c) determining whether said test compound alters the extent or rate of amyloid deposition. Finally, the invention provides a method of screening for a compound which alters the rate or extent of amyloid deposition. The method consists of: (a) constructing a perlecan/amyloid double-transgenic animal; (b) administering an effective amount of a test compound to said perlecan/amyloid double-transgenic animal; and (c) determining whether said test compound alters the extent o rate of amyloid deposition.