University of Illinois

Northwestern University

Michigan State University

Nicholas Kanaan

Gerardo Andres Morfini

Jack W Lipton

Scott Thomas Brady

Lester I Binder

Timothy Collier

Nichole E LaPointe

Caryl E Sortwell

Kathy Steece-Collier

Fredric P Manfredsson

This invention relates to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by administering compositions that increase the activity of a small proline-rich repeat 1 A protein (Sprr1A), or derivative thereof to the brain. Specifically, the compositions may comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Sprr1A protein or a biologically-active portion thereof. The neurodegenerative disease may be Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury.

Sprr1A as a genetic target for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Methods of treating movement disorders by reducing the activity of Nurr1 are disclosed. These methods are particularly applicable to subjects suffering from Parkinson's disease who have either developed levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) or are at risk of developing LID. In some aspects, the invention relates to a method for treating a movement disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition, wherein said composition reduces the activity of a nuclea receptor related 1 protein ('Nurr1'). In some embodiments, the movement disorder is a dyskinesia. The movement disorder may be a levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Nurr1 as a genetic target for treating levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease

The present invention is a composition and method for the prevention and treatment of a tauopathy. The composition of the invention includes N-terminal amino acid residues of the tau protein, which have been identified as being involved in toxic activation of a PP1/GSK3 signaling cascade and inhibition of fast axonal transport in human tauopathies.

Composition and method for preventing or treating a tauopathy

Composition and method for treating a tauopathy

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Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Nicholas Kanaan