Organotypic brain slice cultures from transgenic models of AD develop some of the main molecular hallmarks of human disease including 'plaque-like' depositions when prepared from APP transgenic mice,20 and abnormally phosphorylated tau when tau overexpressing mice are used.21, 22 Moreover, these models can be used to examine the cellular mechanisms underlying AD including Aβ-mediated synaptotoxicity.23, 24, 25, 26. This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and Alzheimer disease.