Compositions and methods for treating diabetes and neuropsychological dysfunction

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diabetes mellitus, neuropsychological and neurological disorders in a particular group of patient. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of treating diabetes mellitus, neuropsychological and neurological disorders in patients having defective potassium channels. The invention may be used in human subjects, particularly adults or children, and is appropriate to treat various neurological disorders.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand to a subject having a defective, mutated potassium channel SUR1 subunit and in need of treatment for the disorder, wherein the mutated SUR1 polypeptide exhibits at least one of the following amino acid mutations: L213R, I1424V, C435R, L582V, H1023Y, R1182Q or R1379C, and wherein the ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is selected from the group consisting of glibenclamide (glyburide), carbutamide, glibornuride, glicazide, glimepiride, glipizide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is glibenclamide (glyburide). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is carbutamide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is glibornuride. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is glicazide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is glimepiride. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligand is glipizide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a combination of said ATP-sensitive potassium channel ligands. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of epilepsy, developmental delay, muscle weakness, dyspraxia, dyslexia, dystonia, dysphasia, and ocular disorders. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is epilepsy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is developmental delay. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is muscle weakness. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is dyspraxia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is dyslexia. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is dystonia. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is dysphasia. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said neuropsychological and/or muscular and/or neurological disorder is an ocular disorder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said ocular disorder is a chorioretinal disorder.