The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease aswell as to methods of confirming the presence or absence of Alzheimer'sDisease in a subject. The present invention is also directed to methods ofidentifying a lead compound useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease bycontacting non-Alzheimer's cells with an amyloid beta peptide, stimulating thecells with a protein kinase C activator, contacting the cells with a testcompound, and determining the value of an Alzheimer's Disease-specificmolecular biomarker. The present invention is also directed to methods ofdiagnosing Alzheimer's Disease in a subject by detecting alterations in theratio of specific phosphorylated MAP kinase proteins in cells afterstimulation with a protein kinase C activator. The Alzheimer's Disease-specific molecular biomarkers disclosed herein are useful for the diagnosis ofAlzheimer's Disease, monitoring the progression of Alzheimer's Disease in asubject and in screening methods for the identification of compounds fortreating or preventing Alzheimer's Disease. The invention is also directed tokits containing reagents for the detection and diagnosis of the presence orabsence of Alzheimer's Disease using the Alzheimer's Disease-specificmolecular biomarkers disclosed herein.
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