Animal models for clinical evaluation

Animal models are indispensable tools in understanding the biology and pathophysiology of CNS diseases. The chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the various animal models employed in studying neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric illnesses, and other CNS-related conditions and highlights their advantages and limitations. They are valuable for evaluating physiological processes, disease onset and progression, and evaluating new therapy approaches. Finding a suitable species for an animal model is usually challenging for researchers. Several factors, like species-specific physiological properties, the equipment availability for the research, and the financial and practical feasibility, must be considered. This chapter summarizes recent advances in modeling CNS disorders, emphasizing degenerative disorders, traumatic injury, and depressive disorders, discussing and highlighting their rationale, advantages, disadvantages, and validity.