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Identifying a natural‐occurring animal model for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and a non‐invasive early AD diagnostic are significant AD research challenges. Previously, we developed rat models by selectively breeding for low and high intrinsic exercise capacity. We found that compared to High Capacity Runners (HCR), Low Capacity Runners (LCR) have a reduced lifespan and greater risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.¹ LCR exhibit neurodegeneration, impaired memory, and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. Saliva is a relatively new AD‐associated research area, and as a bioanalytic,² is an important extension of protein changes in the autonomic nervous system and immune response. Our goal is to determine whether salivary biomarkers link with exercise capacity and brain health in LCR and HCR rats.

We studied three‐generations of female rats (6 months: 9 …