An animal (e.g. rat) model of neurodegenerative disease, preferably selected from Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, Lewy body dementia and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), based on the administration of a single dose of beta-N-methyl amino-L-alanine (BMAA), to induce the neurodegenerative disease. The single dose of BMAA is administered between postnatal day 1 to 6. Also claimed are a non-human animal suitable for use in a method of testing a compound as a treatment of a neurodegenerative disease and a kit comprising BMAA and instruction for its use.