Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, uses a chemical/biological substance which inhibits fatty acid amide hydrolase without inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 and/or 2

摘要

Use of one or more chemical or biological substances (I) for treating a neurodegenerative disease (ND) selected from Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, where (I) inhibits the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in all, most, or specific body cells or tissues without inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and/or the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), is new. Use of one or more chemical or biological substances (I) for the production of a medicament for treating a neurodegenerative disease (ND) selected from Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, or for suppressing or for reducing all, most, or individual symptoms of ND in a patient, where (I) inhibit the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in all, most, or in specific body cells or tissues of the patient without inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and/or the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), is new. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) use of (I) to: (a) prevent ND; (b) stabilize the condition of a patient susceptible to ND; and (c) slow down the development of ND; (B) identifying (I) comprising: (i) bringing a test system comprising FAAH, a fatty acid amide as substrate and one or more (I) (FAAH inhibitor candidate) in contact; and (ii) detecting the inhibitory effect of the FAAH inhibitor candidate(s) with respect to the activity of the enzyme FAAH.