Cultured cells as a screen for novel treatments of Alzheimer's disease

Two easily measured abnormal properties of fibroblasts from patients with Alzheimer's disease have been utilized to develop an in vitro test system for screening novel therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease. The abnormal properties selected for study were increased isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and decreased pH (measured by the weak-acid distribution method). L-Carnitine was tested as a potential therapeutic agent, since it has been used to treat a variety of experimental metabolic encephalopathies. The addition of L-carnitine normalized both of these properties in the Alzheimer cells. Tissue culture may aid as a preliminary screen for identifying novel approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.