Abstract: Live cells obtained from a mammalian tissue or organ. The cells are maintained ex vivo on a porous membrane having a pore size of ?0.02 ?m at a physiologically acceptable pH, in the presence of a culture gas, in culture and in a culture medium. The inter-neighbour relationships and the signal transduction between the cells are retained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases wherein mis-folded proteins accumulate in characteristic lesions and contribute substantially to a pathogenesis and to an inflammatory reaction magnifying the damage, by the isolated or joint effect of inhibitors of the alanyl amino peptidase (APN) and of the dipeptidyl peptidase N (DP IV). Our results show that the application of inhibitors of the above-referenced enzymes or of preparations and dosage forms containing such inhibitors is definitely suitable for a therapy and prevention of dementia diseases and conditions.