Abstract: A method for diagnosing or prognosticating age-related macular degeneration in a subject, or determining whether a subject is at increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration or monitoring the progression of age-related macular degeneration in a subject, comprising: determining a level, or an activity, or both said level and said activity, of at least one substance which is selected from the group consisting of a transcription product of a Cystatin C gene, a translation product of a Cystatin C gene, a fragment of said translation product, an amyloid protein, and a transcription product of a gene coding for an amyloid protein in a sample from said subject; and comparing said level, or said activity, or both said level and said activity, of at least one of said substances to a reference value representing a known disease or health status, thereby diagnosing or prognosticating said age-related macular degeneration in said subject, or determining whether said subject is at increased risk of develo

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of monitoring an immunotherapy against amyloidosis and other diseases characterized by the deposition of abnormal protein aggregates. More specifically, it relates to a method of evaluating an immunotherapy against Alzheimer's disease, based on a novel assay that is characterized by scoring immunoreactivity levels of patient sera in amyloid plaque containing samples. The assay possesses highly predictive properties in relation to the clinical outcome of such an immunotherapy, in contrast to previously used, conventional ELISA assays. Therefore, the novel assay is useful for the evaluation of the efficacy of an immunotherapy in a patient suffering from amyloidosis, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the use of (i) a fragment of the amyloid precursor protein (APP); or, (ii) a derivative of (i); or, (iii) a functional mimetic of (i) or (ii), in the preparation of a medicament for modulating CNS levels and/or activity of a member of the neprilysin family.

Abstract: The invention discloses an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein molecule, the function of which is to protect cells against degeneration and/or cell death, wherein the amino acid sequence of the protein comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 2 or a functional variant thereof.

Abstract: Based on the unexpected identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the LIPA gene as novel genetic risk factors that link cholesterol metabolism to Alzheimer's disease, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing or prognosticating Alzheimer's disease, or determining the propensity or predisposition of a subject to develop Alzheimer's disease. The method comprises detecting the presence or absence of a variation in the LIPA gene which encodes the enzyme acid cholesteryl ester hydrolase. Furthermore, the invention provides methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease by using the CH25H gene and/or the LIPA gene and their corresponding gene products.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing or prognosing Alzheimer's disease in a subject, or determining whether a subject is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, involves determining a level, or an activity, or both the level and the activity, of nerve growth factor in a sample taken from cerebrospinal fluid of the subject, and comparing the level, or the activity, or both the level and the activity, to a reference value representing a known disease or health status, wherein a varied level, or activity, or both the level and the activity, of nerve growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid from the subject relative to the reference value representing a known health status indicates a diagnosis, or prognosis, or increased risk of the Alzheimer's disease in the subject.

Abstract: Based on the unexpected association of a SOAT1 gene polymorphism with reduced genetic risk for a neurodegenerative disease, in particular Alzheimer's disease, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing or prognosticating such a disease, or determining the propensity or predisposition of a subject to develop such a disease. The method comprises detecting the presence or absence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the SOAT1 gene which encodes the enzmye ACAT1, acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1.

Abstract: Based on the unexpected identification of a CYP46 gene polymorphism as a novel genetic risk factor that links cholesterol metabolism to Alzheimer's disease, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing or prognosticating Alzheimer's disease, or determining the propensity or predisposition of a subject to develop Alzheimer's disease. The method comprises detecting the presence or absence of a variation in the CYP46 gene which encodes the enzyme cholesterol 24-hydroxylase.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an in-vivo assay system useful for the identification and testing of modulating agents as well as for the validation of therapies of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, in particular Alzheimer's disease. The present invention is based on the surprising finding that injection of ?-amyloid A?42 fibrils into brains of P301L mutant tau transgenic mice caused several-fold increases in the numbers and an accelerated production of neurofibrillary tangles in cell bodies predominantly within the amygdala. The induced neurofibrillary tangles occurred as early as 18 days after A?42 injections and displayed striking features of neurofibrillary tangles of several human neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the use of (i) a fragment of the amyloid precursor protein (APP); or, (ii) a derivative of (i); or, (iii) a functional mimetic of (i) or (ii), in the preparation of a medicament for modulating CNS levels and/or activity of a member of the neprilysin family.

Abstract: Methods of lowering the levels of A&bgr;40, A&bgr;42 and tau protein in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of talsaclidine, or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, and methods of treating diseases associated with the formation of diffuse and senile plaques or A&bgr;40-, A&bgr;42- and tau-containing plaques are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of lowering the levels of A&bgr;40, A&bgr;42, and tau protein in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of talsaclidine or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof and methods of treating or preventing diseases associated with the formation of diffuse and senile plaques or A&bgr;40-, A&bgr;42- and tau-containing plaques.