METHODS FOR TREATING NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS
Provided herein are methods for treating a subject suffering from a neuropsychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia). The methods include systemic administration of a pharmacological composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of a PAK activator.
1 . A method for treating a subject suffering from a neuropsychiatric condition, comprising administering to the subject a pharmacological composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one activator of a p21-activated kinase, wherein the neuropsychiatric condition is associated with abnormal dendritic spine density, abnormal dendritic spine size, abnormal dendritic spine plasticity, abnormal dendritic spine morphology or abnormal dendritic spine motility.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropsychiatric condition is a psychotic, cognitive, or mood disorder.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropsychiatric condition is associated with abnormal spine density.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropsychiatric condition is schizophrenia, clinical depression, epilepsy, age-related cognitive decline, Huntington's disease, Down's syndrome, Niemann-Pick disease, spongiform encephalitis, Lafora disease, Maple syrup urine disease, maternal phenylketonuria, atypical phenylketonuria, or tuberous sclerosis.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antipsychotic drug.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropsychiatric condition is clinical depression.
9 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antidepressant drug.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one activator is an indirect activator.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the indirect activator is a TrkB receptor agonist.
12 . (canceled)
13 . (canceled)
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the TrkB receptor agonist is a blood-brain barrier-permeable form of BDNF.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activator is a direct activator of p21-activated kinase.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the direct activator comprises a constitutively active form of p21 kinase, Rac or Cdc42.
17 .- 25 . (canceled)
26 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the indirect activator of PAK is a CDK5 inhibitor.