Abstract: The present invention describes a dissociated cell culture system comprising cells of the hippocampus, one of the brain areas affected by Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or amyloid beta-related diseases. This culture system comprises hippocampal neuronal and glial cells from animal models of AD, particularly, but not limited to, double transgenic mice expressing both the human APP mutation (K670N:M671L) (mAPP), and the human PS1 mutation (M146L) (mPS1), and serves as a powerful tool for the screening and testing of compounds and substances, e.g., drugs, for their ability to affect, treat, or prevent AD or ?-amyloid-related diseases. The effects of a test substance on the cells in this culture system can be quantitatively assessed to determine if the test substance affects the cells biochemically and/or electrophysiologically, and/or optically, and/or immunocytochemically. The present in vitro culture system is advantageous for AD drug screening, because it is rapid and efficient.