Prevention And Treatment Of Amyloidogenic Disease

Abstract

The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the amyloid deposit. The methods are useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Preferred agents including N-terminal fragments of Aβ and antibodies binding to the same.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of treating a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the method comprising administering to a patient having the disease an antibody that specifically binds to Aβ peptide, in a regime effective to treat the disease, wherein the antibody is a human polyclonal antibody; wherein the administration is intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular. 
     
     
         35 . A method of reducing the risk or delaying the outset of Alzheimer's disease in a patient whose risk of the disease has been determined from a genetic or biochemical marker, comprising administering to a patient an antibody that specifically binds to Aβ peptide, in a regime effective to reduce the risk or delay the outset of the disease, wherein the antibody is a human polyclonal antibody, wherein the administration is intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the human polyclonal antibody comprises an antibody of isotype human IgG1. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the dosage of antibody is at least 10 mg/kg body weight of the patient. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the antibody is administered with a carrier as a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , further comprising monitoring the patient for level of administered antibody in the blood of the patient. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising administering an additional dosage of antibody if the level of antibody in the blood of the patient has decreased. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein a further dosage of antibody is administered if the level of antibody in the blood of the patient has declined to baseline levels that were present in the blood before administration of the antibody. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the antibody is administered in multiple dosages over a period of at least six months. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the administering of the antibody results in an amelioration of symptoms determined by a psychometric measure. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the psychometric measure is a Mini-Mental State Examination score. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the psychometric measure is an ADAS score. 
     
     
         47 . The method of any one of  claims 44 - 46 , further comprising determining the psychometric measure. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , further comprising monitoring progression of Alzheimer's disease in the patient using MRI. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the intervals between single dosages is once per every two weeks, once a month, or once every 3 to 6 months. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein treatment is begun following a baseline psychometric measurement of patient functioning. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the antibody is administered for the remaining life of the patient.