Method for administering ciliary neurotrophic factor to the brain

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for transporting neurologic therapeutic agents to the brain by means of the olfactory neural pathway and a pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment of brain disorders.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for transporting a ciliary neurotrophic factor to the brain of a mammal, comprising: 
 applying a pharmaceutical composition comprising the ciliary neurotrophic factor to an upper third of a nasal cavity of the mammal, wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is absorbed through a nasal mucosa and transported to the brain of the mammal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition to an olfactory area in the upper third of the nasal cavity.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition to a roof of a nose.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition by employing a tube, a catheter, a syringe, a packtail, a pledget, a submucosal infusion, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a liquid, a powder, a spray, a nose drop, a gel, an ointment, an infusion, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a lipophilic micelle, a liposome, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the lipophilic micelle or liposome comprises a ganglioside, a phosphatidylcholine, a phosphatidylserine, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a substance having an affinity for a receptor site on a neuron.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the brain by way of the mammal's nervous system instead of through the mammal's circulatory system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the brain by way of an olfactory neural pathway.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is absorbed into an olfactory system of the brain.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported through a peripheral olfactory nerve into an olfactory bulb.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to a basal forebrain, a prepyriform complex, a hippocampal formation, an amygdaloid nuclei, a nucleus basalis of Meynert, a locus ceruleus, a brainstem raphe nuclei, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         14 . A method for administering a ciliary neurotrophic factor to the brain of a mammal, comprising: 
 applying a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the ciliary neurotrophic factor to a nasal cavity of the mammal, wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is absorbed through a nasal mucosa and transported to the brain of the mammal along a neural pathway and in an amount effective for promoting growth of a brain cell, promoting survival of a brain cell, augmenting activity of a brain cell, providing a protective effect on a brain cell, or a combination thereof.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the brain by way of a nervous system instead of through a circulatory system.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the brain by way of an olfactory neural pathway.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is absorbed into an olfactory system of the brain.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported through a peripheral olfactory nerve into an olfactory bulb.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the brain of the mammal in an amount effective for treating a neurological condition, a brain disorder, a psychiatric disorder, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein treating comprises treating or preventing brain disease or damage or inhibiting degeneration of nerve cells in the brain.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein treating comprises providing a protective effect on brain cells against or treating stroke.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the condition or disorder comprises a neurodegenerative disorder, an affective disorder, nerve damage from a cerebrovascular disorder, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the affective disorder comprises depression or mania.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the neurodegenerative disorder is Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ciliary neurotrophic factor is transported to the olfactory system of the brain of the mammal in an amount effective for treating or preventing a loss of smell.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition to an upper third of the nasal cavity.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition to an olfactory area in the upper third of the nasal cavity.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising applying the pharmaceutical composition to a roof of a nose.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a lipophilic micelle, a liposome, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the lipophilic micelle or liposome comprises a ganglioside, a phosphatidylcholine, a phosphatidylserine, or a combination thereof.