Benzothiazole and related compounds

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to Formula VII:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:
• subscripts n and p are each independently selected from 0, 1, or 2;
• subscript q is an integer selected from 2, 3, and 5-8;
• and
• each R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, aminocarbonyl, aminosulfonyl, amino, substituted amino, aryl, substituted aryl, carboxyl, carboxyl esters, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, sulfonyl, substituted sulfonyl, thiol, thioalkyl, and nitro,
• and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

A method for increasing dendritic spine density of neurons comprising contacting the neurons with a compound according to Formula VII:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:
• subscripts n and p are each independently selected from 0, 1, or 2;
• subscript q is an integer selected from 2, 3, and 5-8;
• and
• each R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, aminocarbonyl, aminosulfonyl, amino, substituted amino, aryl, substituted aryl, carboxyl, carboxyl esters, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, sulfonyl, substituted sulfonyl, thiol, thioalkyl, and nitro,
• under conditions sufficient to increase dendritic spine density of neurons.

A method for decreasing neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptides to neurons comprising contacting the beta-amyloid peptides with a with a compound according to Formula VII:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:
• subscripts n and p are each independently selected from 0, 1, or 2;
• subscript q is an integer selected from 2, 3, and 5-8;
• and
• each R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, aminocarbonyl, aminosulfonyl, amino, substituted amino, aryl, substituted aryl, carboxyl, carboxyl esters, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, sulfonyl, substituted sulfonyl, thiol, thioalkyl, and nitro,
• under conditions sufficient to decrease the neurotoxicity of the beta-amyloid peptides.

A method for reducing the symptoms of traumatic brain injury in a patient suffering from traumatic brain injury by administering a compound according to Formula VII:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:
• subscripts n and p are each independently selected from 0, 1, or 2;
• subscript q is an integer selected from 2, 3, and 5-8;
• and
• each R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, aminocarbonyl, aminosulfonyl, amino, substituted amino, aryl, substituted aryl, carboxyl, carboxyl esters, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, sulfonyl, substituted sulfonyl, thiol, thioalkyl, and nitro,
• under conditions sufficient to reduce the symptoms of traumatic brain injury.