Abstract: A treatment for neuropathologies associated with elevated levels of the cytokine TNF-&agr; in the brain is disclosed. The resulting reduction in cerebral perfusion can be eliminated by the administration of an endothelin receptor antagonist, an antagonist to the TNF-&agr; p75 receptor, an endothelin converting enzyme inhibitor or an endothelin neutralising agent. Evaluation of suitable treatment compounds which bind to the TNF-&agr; p75 receptor or the endothelin receptors (ETA and ETB), and which act as an antagonist at these receptors, can be performed using in vivo MRI techniques to detect an increase in cerebral perfusion.