Treatment of neurodegenerative conditions

Abstract

A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of γ-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterised in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-β1 levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a demyelinating neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a therapeutically effective dose of a monoglyceride of general formula I 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is the a fatty acyl group of an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from γ-linolenoyl, γ-dihomolinolenoyl and arachidonoyl. 
       
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the disease is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the disease is relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, primary progressive multiple sclerosis or chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the treatment is of cerebral impairment after stroke, head trauma and intracranial bleeding, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease where there is demyelination or neuronal damage.