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Development of new drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease and human memory loss requires testing in animals prior to administration to humans. These animal studies determine the safe and effective dose to give humans. Animal models (primarily rodent) of Alzheimer’s disease are inadequate. As a result, many drugs improving memory in rodents fail in human clinical trials. There is a clear need to develop more effective animal models that can predict “success” in human trials. Primates are much closer to humans in their cognitive function than rodents and are an excellent animal model. However, few primate colonies are available for these purposes. Dr. Buccafusco uses aged primates (macaque monkeys) to test drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. In this proposal Dr. Buccafusco will develop a new battery of computer assisted cognitive tests for primates to expedite and standardize cognitive testing in clinical trials employing a computer “touch screen” format. In addition, he will use these tests to determine the efficacy of new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging in humans.