Abstract: This invention is in the fields of medicine and neurology, and relates to methods and agents for early diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. More particularly, the present invention provides the method for evaluating the health of central nervous system neurons in a human patient, comprising the steps of: a) administering to said patient a population of molecular complexes comprising (i) a polypeptide capable of activating neuronal endocytosis, axonal transport, and synaptic transfer; and (ii) an imaging agent suited for determining location and evaluating neuronal transport of said molecular complexes within said patient; and b) using at least one imaging method to determine location and evaluate neuronal transport of said molecular complexes within said patient.

Abstract: Material and method for promoting the re-growth of the CNS in mammals, including humans. This involves ligating a peripheral nerve, then excising the resulting material distal to the point of ligation (6) after a substantial delay. The nerve material (7), which is rich in vivo activated glial cells, is then finely minced (5) and in combination with a support matrix, and/or other nerve growth promoting materials (3), inserted into the spinal cord injury cavity (2) via syringe (4) so as to promote growth of the corticospinal tract axons (8) in the CNS (1).