Prevention and Treatment of Amyloidogenic Disease

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for treatment of amyloidogenic diseases. Such methods entail administering an agent that induces a beneficial immune response against an amyloid deposit in the patient. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In such methods, a suitable agent is Aβ peptide, active fragments thereof or an antibody thereto.

1 . A method of preventing or treating a disease characterized by amyloid deposit in a patient, comprising administering an effective dosage of an antibody that specifically binds to the amyloid deposit or a component thereof to the patient. 
     
     
         2 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease, comprising administering an effective dosage of a polypeptide comprising an active fragment of Aβ that induces an immune response to Aβ in the patient. 
     
     
         39 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active fragment of Aβ effective to induce a response to AB in a patient and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         54 - 55 . (canceled)