Compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Compounds, and compositions, methods, and uses thereof, are described herein for treating neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. In particular, vasopressin receptor modulators, and compositions, methods and uses thereof, are described herein for treating neuropsychiatric aspects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Alzheimer's Disease.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A process for screening a compound for efficacy in treating one or more neuropsychiatric symptoms of Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or Alzheimer's Disease, the process comprising
 (a) measuring a first human reaction to obtain a first response to a series of images comprising one or more angry faces, one or more neutral faces, and a neutral stimulus image;   (b) measuring a second human reaction to obtain a second response to the series of images, where the second human reaction is measured in a human after administration of the compound; and   (c) comparing the first human reaction to the second human reaction, where a difference between the first response to at least one of the one or more neutral faces compared to the second response to the at least one of the one or more neutral faces indicates that the compound is efficacious in treating one or more neuropsychiatric symptoms of Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or Alzheimer's Disease.   
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the one or more angry faces and the one or more neutral faces are selected from Ekman faces. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the first human reaction and the second human reaction are obtained by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of at least a portion of the brain. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the first response and the second response are Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signals. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the first response to the at least one of the one or more neutral faces is different from the first response to the neutral stimulus image. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the first response to at least one of the one or more angry faces is different from the second response to the at least one of the one or more angry faces. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the first response to the neutral stimulus image is similar to the second response to the neutral stimulus image. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the series of images further comprises one or more happy faces. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 30  wherein the one or more happy faces are selected from Ekman faces. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the neuropsychiatric symptoms include aggression, irritability, or anger, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . A method for treating Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or Alzheimer's Disease in a human, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of  claim 23 .