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AssigneesThe United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, University of South Florida
InventorValentina Echeverria Moran
Estimating the term…
The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with accumulation of Aβ peptide in neural tissue. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for treating and/or preventing stress disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of cotinine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a person or animal in need of treatment. The methods of the invention can be used to prevent and/or treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and/or Down's syndrome. The subject invention also concerns compositions that comprise cotinine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or adjuvant. The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting and diagnosing conditions associated with accumulation of Aβ peptide in neural tissue, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, using the chemical cotinine. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering cotinine labeled with a detectable label to a person or animal. The presence of labeled cotinine in neural tissue is then determined. The level and/or location of cotinine can be analyzed and a diagnosis made. The subject invention also concerns cotinine labeled with a detectable label. In one embodiment, the cotinine is labeled with a radioisotope that can be detected by Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
A method for treating and/or preventing a disease or condition associated with the accumulation and/or aggregation of Aβ peptide in neural tissue, or for treating and/or preventing a disorder or condition associated with Down's syndrome, or for treating and/or preventing a post-traumatic stress disorder or condition, said method comprising administering an effective amount of cotinine, or a composition comprising cotinine, or an isomer or racemate thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a person or animal so as to treat and/or prevent a disease or condition associated with the accumulation and/or aggregation of Aβ peptide in neural tissue, treat and/or prevent a disorder or condition associated with Down's syndrome, or treat and/or prevent a post-traumatic stress disorder or condition, wherein cotinine inhibits formation of soluble Aβ oligomer from Aβ monomers and protects neuron from Aβ toxicity associated with soluble Aβ oligomer and/or enhances the extinction of fear memory in a person or animal in need of treatment.
A method for inhibiting or preventing Aβ oligomerization, or for increasing activity or expression of dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) and/or facilitating serotonin release in neural tissue or a cell, said method comprising contacting a cell with an effective amount of cotinine, or a composition comprising cotinine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
9-24. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.