Drug and food/drink for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction

Abstract

[Problem] To provide means for improving symptoms of cerebral dysfunction. [Solution Means] The inventor has newly found that peripheral administration of sepiapterin increases the bioavailability of aromatic monoamines in the brain. Accordingly, provided are a drug for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction, which contains at least one of sepiapterin and its salt and also provided is a food and or drink for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction, which contains at least one of sepiapterin and its salt. Unlike tetrahydrobiopterin, etc., sepiapterin is able to repress the lowering level of aromatic monoamines (such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline) in neurons in the brain and also increase the bioavailability. Therefore, sepiapterin may be effective against cerebral dysfunction caused by the lowered level of aromatic monoamines in the brain in neurons in the brain, for example, central mental disorders such as depression, hyperphagia, autism, impaired consciousness and concentration, and cognitive disturbance as well as central motor disorders such as myotonia, rigidity and tremor.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A drug for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction (excluding cerebral dysfunction of fetuses or newborns), which contains at least sepiapterin and is peripherally administered daily at a dose of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg. 
     
     
         10 . The drug according to claim  1 , which elevates an intracellular level of tetrahydrobiopterin in neurons in the brain. 
     
     
         11 . The drug according to claim  1 , which suppresses the decrease in aromatic monoamines in the brain. 
     
     
         12 . The drug according to claim  1  wherein the cerebral dysfunction is a central mental disorder or a central motor disorder. 
     
     
         13 . The drug according to claim  1  wherein the cerebral dysfunction is a central mental disorder which is any one of depression, hyperphagia, autism, impaired consciousness and concentration, and cognitive disturbance, or a central motor disorder which is any one of myotonia, rigidity and tremor. 
     
     
         14 . A food or drink for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction (excluding cerebral dysfunction of fetuses or newborns), which food or drink contains sepiapterin as an active ingredient and is orally taken daily in an amount of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg. 
     
     
         15 . A method for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction, the method comprising administering to a patient suffering from cerebral dysfunction an effective dose of sepiapterin via a peripheral route of administration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein sepiapterin is administered orally to the patient to provide a dose from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein sepiapterin is administered intravenously to the patient at a dose of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said administration results in an elevated intracellular level of tetrahydrobiopterin in neurons of the brain. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said administration results in suppression of the decrease in aromatic monoamines in the brain. 
     
     
         20 . Use of sepiapterin in formulation of a drug for preventing or improving cerebral dysfunction (excluding cerebral dysfunction of fetuses or newborns), which is peripherally administered daily at a dose of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg.