Abstract: Methods for inhibiting impaired neurogenesis and/or synaptogenesis in neurons in a subject with or suspected of having Alzheimer's Disease (AD), methods for improving and/or slowing the decline of cognitive function after onset of neuropathology and cognitive dysfunction, which neuropathology and cognitive dysfunction are caused by AD, methods for improving and/or slowing the decline of memory before onset of symptoms of AD, methods for increasing concentration and duration of dantrolene in the brain, and methods for improving and/or slowing the decline of memory after onset of symptoms of AD, the methods comprising intranasally administering to a subject in need thereof an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising dantrolene effective to inhibit over-activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMVDA) receptor and/or ryanodine receptor (RyR). Methods further comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of a glutamate receptor antagonist to the subject.