The past, the present, and the future of preclinical mouse models for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Over the past decade, the Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (MODEL-AD) consortium has transformed preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) research by addressing critical limitations in traditional mouse models that failed to translate to human disease. By leveraging human genetic discoveries, MODEL-AD has developed > 70 genetically informed mouse models, standardized phenotyping pipelines, and an open-access data infrastructure aligned with late-onset AD biology. These models incorporate human risk variants, environmental factors, and aging to better capture disease complexity, including emerging recognition of mixed pathologies such as vascular contributions, Lewy body disease, and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Despite substantial progress, key challenges remain, including modeling multimorbidity, integrating aging, and improving translational predictability. Here, we outline a strategic roadmap spanning short-, intermediate-, and long-term approaches to refine disease modeling, enhance preclinical testing rigor, and support precision medicine. Continued investment in MODEL-AD will be essential to accelerate therapeutic discovery and establish a scalable framework for studying complex neurodegenerative diseases.