Role of the brain vascular system and blood-brain barrier transport in clearance of alzheimer's amyloid-beta peptide from the central nervous system

A method of at least treating an individual with Alzheimer's disease or at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, said method comprising increasing low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP-1) mediated removal of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) at the blood-brain barrier in said individual in the direction from brain to blood.

A method of at least treating an individual with Alzheimer's disease or at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, said method comprising increasing vascular clearance of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) from the brain of said individual.

A method of determining the effectiveness of at least a drug or medical regimen for treating Alzheimer's disease, said method comprising:

• (a) measuring the abundance of low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP-1), abundance of transcripts thereof, or activity of LRP-1 receptor in the presence of said drug or medical regimen, and
• (b) at least determining said drug or medical regimen is effective when the abundance of LRP-1 protein, abundance of transcripts thereof, or activity of LRP-1 receptor is increased in the presence of said drug or medical regimen.

A kit comprised of one or more of a specific binding molecule for low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP-1) or a transcript thereof used to measure abundance of said LRP-1 protein, abundance of transcripts thereof, or LRP-1 receptor activity, and/or a non-Alzheimer's disease control containing LRP-1 protein or a transcript thereof.