Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, causation of memory enhancement, and assay for screening compounds for such

摘要

The invention provides methods of enhancing memory and/or learning and prevent neurodegeneration, comprising administering therapeutically effective amounts of certain heterocyclic and aromatic compounds to a patient in need thereof. In one aspect, the invention provides methods of treating patients suffering from a neurodegenerative disease, such as but not limited to, Alzheimer's, Parkinsons's, Lou Gehrig's (ALS) disease, and/or memory or learning impairment. The invention further provides neuronal human cell-based assays that assess NF-kB gene upregulation using a luciferase reporter, wherein the assays identify compounds that are useful in enhancing memory or learning.