Methods of treating mild brain injury

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for treating mild brain injury and other neurological disorders in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound comprising ghrelin.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ghrelin, thereby treating the mTBI. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ghrelin has the sequence of Gly-Ser-Ser-Phe-Leu-Ser-Pro-Glu-His-Gln-Arg-Val-Gln-Gln-Arg-Lys-Glu-Ser-Lys-Lys-Pro-Pro-Ala-Lys-Leu-Gln-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO. 1). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ghrelin is modified with one or more fatty acids. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fatty acid is an octanoic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ghrelin is modified at serine at amino acid position 2 and/or serine at amino acid position 3 of SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ghrelin is modified at serine at amino acid position 2 and/or serine amino acid position 3 with an octanoic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein modification of ghrelin is acylation of ghrelin at serine at amino acid position 2 and/or serine at amino acid position 3 with an octanoic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein ghrelin is administered within not more than about 24 hours of the mTBI. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject has a Glasgow Coma Scale score between 13 and 15 prior to administration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ghrelin is administered in an amount that results in ghrelin blood levels being at least two times greater than the endogenous ghrelin blood levels of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein ghrelin is administered in a single dose. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein ghrelin is administered at a dosage from 10 ng/kg per day to 10 mg/kg per day. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein ghrelin is administered at a dosage of 2 pg/kg per day. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mTBI comprises a concussion. 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating metabolic derangements associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ghrelin, thereby treating the metabolic derangements. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating increase in reactive oxygen species associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ghrelin, thereby treating the increase in reactive oxygen species. 
     
     
         19 . A method for improving neuroconnectivity in the brain of a subject after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ghrelin, thereby improving neuroconnectivity in the brain of the subject. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing or reducing the incidence or severity of one or more symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a subject at risk of mTBI, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ghrelin, thereby preventing or reducing the incidence or severity of the one or more symptoms.