The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating and / or preventing diseases associated with accumulation of Aβ
peptide in neural tissue. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for treating and / or preventing
stress disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of
cotinine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a person or animal in need of treatment. The methods of the invention can be used to prevent and / or treat Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's
disease, and / or Down'
s syndrome. The subject invention also concerns compositions that comprise
cotinine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,
diluent or
adjuvant.The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting and diagnosing conditions associated with accumulation of Aβ
peptide in neural tissue, such as Alzheimer's
disease and Parkinson's disease, using the chemical
cotinine. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering cotinine labeled with a detectable
label to a person or animal. The presence of labeled cotinine in neural tissue is then determined. The level and / or location of cotinine can be analyzed and a diagnosis made. The subject invention also concerns cotinine labeled with a detectable
label. In one embodiment, the cotinine is labeled with a radioisotope that can be detected by
Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) or
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).