Methods and compositions for treating aging-associated impairments

Abstract

Methods of treating an adult mammal for an aging-associated impairment are provided. Aspects of the methods include reducing the β2-microglobulin (B2M) level in the mammal in a manner sufficient to treat the mammal for the aging-associated impairment. A variety of aging-associated impairments may be treated by practice of the methods, which impairments include cognitive impairments.

1 . A method of treating an adult mammal for an aging-associated impairment, the method comprising:
 reducing the β2-microglobulin (B2M) level in the mammal in a manner sufficient to treat the adult mammal for the aging-associated impairment.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises reducing systemic B2M of the mammal. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the B2M level is reduced by administering to the mammal an effective amount of a B2M level reducing agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the B2M level reducing agent is a B2M binding agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the B2M binding agent comprises an antibody or binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the B2M binding agent comprises a small molecule. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the B2M level reducing agent comprises a B2M expression inhibitor agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the B2M expression inhibitory agent comprises a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a primate. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the primate is a human. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adult mammal is an elderly mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the elderly mammal is a human that is 60 years or older. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aging-associated impairment comprises a cognitive impairment.