Abstract: Compounds of formula I, their respective mirror-image enantiomers, and mixtures—preferably racemic—of both enantiomers, wherein R1 is ethyl or phenyl; R2 is methyl, phenyl, monosubstituted phenyl, benzyl, or monosubstituted benzyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of: (C1-C6)-alkyl, (C1-C6)-cycloalkyl, —[CH2]n-phenyl, —[CH2]n-1-naphtyl, —[CH2]n-2-naphtyl, and —[CH2]n-[substituted phenyl]; wherein [substituted phenyl] is a phenyl radical with one, two or three substituents independently selected from: F, Cl, Br, (C1-C3)-alkyl, (C1-C3)-alkyloxy, phenyl, phenoxy, —CF3, —OCF3, nitro, —CN, —CO—(C1-C3)-alkyl and benzoyl; and n is an integer between 0 and 4; have a high affinity for imidazoline receptors of the I2 type, i.e. they are I2-IR ligands. Consequently they are applicable in the prevention or treatment of brain disorders in animals, including humans, particularly of neurodegenerative disorders, and more particularly of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Abstract: A non-human transgenic animal having a polynucleotide encoding an STXBP1 polypeptide, which polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter, wherein said transgenic animal has greater than wild-type expression of the STXBP1 polypeptide in at least one brain region, as well as related vectors, methods of producing transgenic animals, in vitro and in vivo screening methods for potential therapeutic agents, and methods for treating and diagnosing neuropsychiatric illness are disclosed.

Abstract: A non-human transgenic animal having a polynucleotide encoding an STXBP1 polypeptide, which polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter, wherein said transgenic animal has greater than wild-type expression of the STXBP1 polypeptide in at least one brain region, as well as related vectors, methods of producing transgenic animals, in vitro and in vivo screening methods for potential therapeutic agents, and methods for treating and diagnosing neuropsychiatric illness are disclosed.