Muscarinic m2 receptor blockade to delay or prevent onset of progressive memory decline

Abstract

Provided are methods for delaying or preventing onset of progressive memory decline by administering a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound to patients identified as at risk of developing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline, prior to onset of the condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delaying or preventing onset of progressive memory decline in patients in need of such treatment, wherein said method comprises:
 identifying a patient that is at risk of developing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline; and   administering to the patient, prior to onset of the condition, a therapeutically effective amount of a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound;   wherein the patient has not been diagnosed as currently experiencing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline at the time of administration of the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is identified as being at risk of developing dementia. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is identified as being at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is identified as being at risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is initially administered prior to patient's onset of memory decline. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is administered orally. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 identifying a subject that is at risk of developing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline;   administering a therapeutically effective amount of a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound to the subject prior to onset of progressive memory decline; and   delaying onset of progressive memory decline in the subject by repeated administration of the therapeutically effective amount of a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound to the subject.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject has not been diagnosed as currently experiencing the condition characterized by progressive memory decline at a time of a first administration of the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the condition characterized by progressive memory decline is dementia. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the condition characterized by progressive memory decline is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject is identified as being at risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first administration of the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is prior to the subject's onset of memory decline. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is administered orally. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 identifying a subject that is at risk of developing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline; and   delaying onset of progressive memory decline in the subject by repeated administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound to the subject.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject has not been diagnosed as currently experiencing the condition characterized by progressive memory decline at a time of a first administration of the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the condition characterized by progressive memory decline is dementia. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the condition characterized by progressive memory decline is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject is identified as being at risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first administration of the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is prior to the subject's onset of memory decline. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound is administered orally.