METHODS FOR TREATING MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

1 . A method for the treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the Mild Cognitive Impairment is amnestic MCI, MCIcharacterized by slight impairment of multiple cognitive domains, or non-amnestic MCI.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the Mild Cognitive Impairment is amnestic MCI.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the Mild Cognitive Impairment is non-amnestic MCI.

5 .- 15 . (canceled)

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant baseline synaptic transmission associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant synaptic plasticity associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant long term depression (LTD) associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes aberrant long term potentiation (LTP) associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor normalizes or partially normalizes deficits in memory, attention/executive function, visuospatial function or language.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor slows the deterioration in memory, attention/executive function, visuospatial function of language associated with MCI.

22 .- 24 . (canceled)

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor is a Group I PAK inhibitor.

26 . The method of claim 1 wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor is a PAK1 inhibitor.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor is a PAK2 inhibitor.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor is a PAK3 inhibitor.

29 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administration of a second therapeutic agent.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the second therapeutic agent is an acetylcholinestrase inhibitor, an antioxidant, memantine or minocycline.

31 . The method of claim 1 , 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), Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Boston Naming Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Trail Making Test or Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) scale for the individual.

32 .- 75 . (canceled)

76 . The method of claim 1 wherein the PAK inhibitor has the structure of Formula I

wherein:

W is a bond;

R 6 is —CN, —OH, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, —N(R 10 ) 2 , substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;

R 7 is halogen, —CN, —OH, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, —C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , —CO 2 R 10 , —N(R 10 ) 2 , acyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;

Q is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl fused to ring A;

ring A is substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl substituted with 0-4 R 4 ;

each R 4 is independently halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , —OH, —SR 8 , —S(═O)R 9 , —S(═O) 2 R 9 , —NR 10 S(═O) 2 R 9 , —S(═O) 2 N(R 10 ) 2 , —C(═O)R 9 , —OC(═O)R 9 , —CO 2 R 10 , —N(R 10 ) 2 , —C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , —NR 10 C(═O)R 10 , —NR 10 C(═O)OR 10 , —NR 10 C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl;

R 8 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl;

R 9 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl

each R 10 is independently H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or two R 10 together with the atoms to which they are attached form a heterocycle;

ring B is aryl or heteroaryl substituted with R 5 ;

each R 5 is independently halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , —OH, —SR 8 , —S(═O)R 9 , —S(═O) 2 R 9 , NR 10 S(═O) 2 R 9 , —S(═O) 2 N(R 10 ) 2 , —C(═O)R 9 , —OC(═O)R 9 , —CO 2 R 10 , —N(R 10 ) 2 , C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , —NR 10 (═O)R 10 , —NR 10 (═O)OR 10 , —NR 10 (═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl; and

r is 0-8; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

77 . The method of claim 1 wherein the PAK inhibitor has the structure of Formula IX

wherein:

W is a bond;

R 6 is H;

R 7 is

ring T is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl substituted with R 3 and R 4 ;

R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl attached to ring T via a carbon atom;

Q is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl fused to ring A;

ring A is substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl substituted with 0-4 R 4 ;

each R 4 is independently halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , —OH, —SR 8 , —S(═O)R 9 , —S(═O) 2 R 9 , —NR 10 S(═O) 2 R 9 , —S(═O) 2 N(R 10 ) 2 , —C(═O)R 9 , —OC(═O)R 9 , —CO 2 R 10 , —N(R 10 ) 2 , C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , —NR 19 C(═O)R 10 , —NR 10 C(═Oc)OR 10 , —NR 10 C(═)N(R 10 ) 2 , substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl;

R 8 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl;

R 9 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl

each R 10 is independently H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or two R 10 together with the atoms to which they are attached form a heterocycle;

s is 0-4;

ring B is aryl or heteroaryl substituted with R 5 ;

each R 5 is independently halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , —OH, —SR 8 , —S(═O)R 9 , —S(═O) 2 R 9 , NR 10 S(═O) 2 R 9 , —S(═O) 2 N(R 10 ) 2 , —C(═O)R 9 , —OC(═O)R 9 , —CO 2 R 10 , —N(R 1 ) 2 , —C(═O)N(R 19 ) 2 , —NR 19 C(═O)R 10 , —NR 10 C(═O)OR 10 , —NR 10 C(═O)N(R 10 ) 2 , substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl; and

r is 0-8; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.