METHODS FOR TREATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

1 . A method for delaying or halting progression of Alzheimer's disease comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor.

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4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor modulates dendritic spine morphology or synaptic function.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor modulates dendritic spine density and/or dendritic spine length.

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7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor modulates dendritic spine neck diameter and/or dendritic spine shape.

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10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor modulates dendritic spine head volume and/or dendritic spine head diameter.

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15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant baseline synaptic transmission and/or aberrant synaptic plasticity associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant long term depression (LTD) and/or aberrant long term potentiation (LTP) associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes deficits in memory, executive function, or language.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor reverses or partially reverses dementia or paraphasia.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor causes substantially complete inhibition of one or more p21-activated kinases.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor causes partial inhibition of one or more p21-activated kinases.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor is a Group I PAK inhibitor.

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27 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising administration of a second therapeutic agent, wherein the second therapeutic agent is an acetylcholinestrase inhibitor, memantine or minocycline.

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29 . The method of claim 27 , where the second therapeutic agent is an alpha7 nicotinic receptor agonist

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31 . A method of reducing, stabilizing, or reversing neuronal withering and/or loss of synaptic function associated with Alzheimer's disease comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that modulates dendritic spine morphology or synaptic function, wherein the neuronal withering and/or loss of synaptic function is associated with dimers or oligomers of beta-amyloid protein, or hydrolysis products thereof, neurofibrillary tangles, or hyperphosphorylated tau protein.

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51 . A method of reducing, stabilizing or reversing atrophy or degeneration of nervous tissue in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that modulates dendritic spine morphology or synaptic function.

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the atrophy or degeneration of nervous tissue is in the temporal lobe, the parietal Jobe, the frontal cortex or the cingulate gyrus.

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69 . The method of claim 52 , wherein administration of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor to an individual in need thereof improves, stabilizes, or lessens the deterioration of scores on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) or Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-cog) scale for the individual.

70 . A method for determination of an effective dose of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor for treatment of Alzheimer's disease comprising:

1. i) using an analytical instrument to detect and measure the amount of soluble beta-amyloid protein, or hydrolysis products thereof, in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and

2. ii) increasing or decreasing or maintaining the dose of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor based on the measurement of the amount of soluble beta-amyloid protein, or hydrolysis products thereof, in the sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

71 . A method for delaying or preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease comprising administration of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor to an individual in need thereof, wherein the individual has or is suspected of having risk genes pre-disposing the individual to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

72 . (canceled)