Method for delaying the onset of alheimer's disease and for treatment or delaying the onset of other amyloidosis-related diseases/disorders

• US 6,274,615 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New York University, South Alabama Medical Science Foundation
• Original Assignee: New York University, South Alabama Medical Science Foundation
• Inventors: Pappolla, Miguel A., Frangione, Blas, Ghiso, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Weddington, Kevin E.
• Application Number:
  US09/276,171
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 514/415, 514/879
• US Class Current: 514/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4045 Indole-alkylamines; Amides thereof, e.g. serotonin, melatonin

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of using melatonin to reduce, inhibit or reverse the formation of amyloid fibrils and amyloid or amyloid-like deposits. The present invention also relates to a method for delaying the onset of Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease or other amyloidosis-related diseases/disorders or for treating such diseases/disorders by administering an effective amount of melatonin to a subject in need thereof.

Claims

1. A method for delaying the onset of Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease in individuals predisposed to Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease or for treating or delaying the onset of other amyloidosis-related diseases/disorders, comprising administering an effective amount of melatonin to a subject in need thereof to inhibit the formation of fibrils associated with Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease or to reduce, inhibit or reverse the formation of fibrils or amyloid or amyloid-like deposits associated with amyloidosis-related diseases/disorders other than Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

2. The method for delaying the onset of Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease according to claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof is one who is predisposed to Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the subject in need thereof has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

4. The method for treating or delaying the onset of amyloidosis-related disease/disorder other than Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease according to claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof has an amyloidosis-related disease/disorder other than Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the subject in need thereof has a prion-related encephalopathy.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the subject in need thereof has senile cardiac amyloidosis.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of melatonin is administered systemically.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof is human.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of melatonin is in a range of 20 mg to 1500 mg.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of melatonin is in a range of 50 to 1500 mg.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of melatonin is in a range of 50 mg to 500 mg.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of melatonin is in a range of 100 mg to 500 mg.