Method for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease

• US 20040060077A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jack R. Wands, Robert W. Esmond, Suzanne De La Monte
• Original Assignee: Jack R. Wands, Robert W. Esmond, Suzanne De La Monte
• Inventors: Wands, Jack R., de la Monte, Suzanne, Esmond, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,300,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/28 Compounds containing heavy metals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/426 1,3-Thiazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/427 not condensed and containing further heterocyclic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4439 containing a five-membered ring with nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. omeprazole nicotine A61K31/465
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/48 Ergoline derivatives, e.g. lysergic acid, ergotamine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4985 Pyrazines or piperazines ortho- or peri-condensed with heterocyclic ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/24 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/30 Insulin-like growth factors, i.e. somatomedins, e.g. IGF-1, IGF-2 insulin-like growth factor binding protein A61K38/1754
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/28 for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/00 Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for treating or preventing Alzheimer'"'"'s disease by restricting the level of metabolizable carbohydrate in the diet and/or administering to the patient an effective amount of an agent which reduces serum insulin levels.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, in a human, comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of an agent which results in lowered serum insulin levels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said agent is chromium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said agent is insulin-like growth factor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said agent is a dopamine agonist.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said dopamine agonist is bromocryptine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said agent is a thiazolidinedione.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said thiazolidinedione is troglitazone.

8. A method for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, in a human, comprising restricting the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet of the human to a level which results in lowered serum insulin levels.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 55 grams per day.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 30 grams per day.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 15 grams per day.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 10 grams per day.

13. A method for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, in a human, comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of an agent which results in lowered serum insulin levels and restricting the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet of the human.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of chromium, insulin-like growth factor, a dopamine agonist and a thiazolidinedione.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said agent is troglitazone.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 55 grams per day.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 30 grams per day.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 15 grams per day.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the metabolizable carbohydrates in the diet are limited to no more than about 10 grams per day.

20. A method of improving mentation of a patient with Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of an agent which increases the insulin sensitivity of the patient.