Abstract: A method of treating and monitoring patient diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum disorder or Fragile X syndrome comprising measuring plasma biomarker levels of BDNF, sAPP, and sAPP alpha and adjusting the amount of a therapeutic compound according to the plasma levels of BDNF, sAPP and sAPPs. In one embodiment, the therapeutic compound is acamprosate.

Abstract: A method of treating and monitoring patient diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum disorder or Fragile X syndrome comprising measuring plasma biomarker levels of BDNF, sAPP, and sAPP alpha and adjusting the amount of a therapeutic compound according to the plasma levels of BDNF, sAPP and sAPPs. In one embodiment, the therapeutic compound is acamprosate.

Abstract: A method of either inhibiting the formation of A&bgr; or stimulating the formation of sAPP comprises administering to a patient with a neurological disease or a patient at risk of developing a neurological disease an effective quantity of a purine derivative or analogue, a tetrahydroindolone derivative or analogue, or a pyrimidine derivative or analogue. If the compound is a purine derivative, the purine moiety can be guanine or hypoxanthine. The neurological disease can be a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease or a neurodevelopmental disorder such as Down's syndrome. Typically, the compound can pass through the blood-brain barrier. The purine moiety can be hypoxanthine or guanine. A particularly preferred purine derivative is N-4-carboxyphenyl-3-(6-oxohydropurin-9-yl) propanamide.

Abstract: A method of increasing the synthesis and/or secretion of synaptophysin comprises administering to a patient with a neurological disease or a patient at risk of developing a neurological disease an effective quantity of a purine derivative or analogue, a tetrahydroindolone derivative or analogue, or a pyrimidine derivative or analogue. If the compound is a purine derivative, the purine moiety can be guanine or hypoxanthine. The neurological disease can be a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease or a neurodevelopmental disorder such as Down's syndrome. Typically, the compound can pass through the blood-brain barrier. The purine moiety can be hypoxanthine or guanine. A particularly preferred purine derivative is N-4-carboxyphenyl-3-(6-oxohydropurin-9-yl) propanamide.