Abstract: Described is a method of screening for a therapeutic agent useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of AD comprising detecting oligomers of a peptide comprising an APP-G29xxxG33 motif in an assay system to which system a test compound has been added and comparing the size distribution of the oligomers of said peptide and/or degree of oligomerization with a control assay characterized by the absence of said test compound, wherein reduction of the amounts of dimers and/or tetramers indicates that said test compound might be suitable for prophylaxis or treatment of AD.

Abstract: Described is a method of screening for therapeutic agents for the prophylaxis and therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD), wherein agents that (i) do not interfere with the biological activity of gamma-secretase, (ii) do not exhibit cytotoxicity, (iii) lead to reduced amounts of Abeta42 and (iv) are capable of binding to an APP-GxxxG motif thereby weakening or inhibiting dimerization of the APP transmembrane sequence are suitable for prophylaxis or treatment of AD.

Abstract: Described is a method for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or a particular stage of the disease which is based on the determination of the ratio of at least two gamma-secretase cleavage products, Abeta48, Abeta45, Abeta42, Abeta38 and Abeta35, preferably the ratio of Abeta38: Abeta42. A decreased ratio of Abeta38: Abeta42 as compared to the normal ratio is indicative of AD. Moreover, kits suitable for carrying out said diagnostic method are described.

Abstract: Described is the use of a nanocarrier having a dendritic structure which is composed of a dendritic core and at least one shell for the non-covalent encapsulation and/or transport of divalent metal-ions, preferably Cu-ions or Zn(II) -ions. Also described is a pharmaceutical composition containing such nanocarrier complexed divalent metal-ions in a non-covalent encapsulated form. Finally several therapeutic uses of such a nanocarrier divalent metal-ion complex are described, for example for slowing down ageing or for the treatment of Cu-ion transport disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Menkes disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the homodimerization of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the relevance of this process for the presence of enhanced amounts of the amyloid ?-peptide (A?) in vivo. The present invention provides novel compounds useful for the diagnosis/prevention/treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Also provided are vectors, host cells and antibodies. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to copper agonists that bind on the copper binding site of APP and/or exert an inhibiting effect on the release of the amyloid A? peptide participating in the emergence of Alzheimer's disease. The invention also relates to the drugs containing said copper agonists or to the utilization of said copper agonists for the preparation of a drug for the prevention and/or treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The invention further relates to a method for identifying copper agonists having the desired effect described in the invention.