Compositions and methods for treating alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions for reducing amyloid plaque burden associated with Alzheimer's disease and methods of using the same.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of reducing amyloid plaque burden, said method comprising:
 (i) imaging the brain of a subject;   (ii) determining the number and/or area of the amyloid plaques; and   (iii) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor if the number and/or area of the amyloid plaques exceeds a predetermined threshold,   wherein the p38 MAPK inhibitor is VX-745.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the subject is a patient at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the subject is a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are repeated at one or more predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined interval is about six (6) months. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined interval is about one (1) year. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the brain of the subject is imaged using a neuroimaging technique selected from the group consisting of computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the neuroimaging technique is positron emission tomography (PET). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising an imaging agent selected from amyvid or Pittsburgh compound B. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the p38 inhibitor is administered for a period of less than six (6) months. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the p38 inhibitor is administered for a period of less than four (4) months. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the p38 inhibitor is administered for a period of less than two (2) months. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the p38 inhibitor is administered for a period of less than one (1) month. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the p38 inhibitor is administered for a period of about two (2) weeks. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of reducing the number and/or volume of amyloid plaques in a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective dose of a p38 inhibitor, wherein the therapeutically effective dose is between about 1 mg to about 100 mg. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose is between about 1 mg to about 20 mg. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose is between about 1 mg to about 10 mg. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose is between about 1 mg to about 5 mg. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the number and/or area of the amyloid plaques is determined by comparing a neuroimage of the subject to a reference image.