Patent ID: 7951367

Claim:
A method of increasing cathepsin B-induced cleavage of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in a neuron or a glial cell, the method comprising contacting the neuron or the glial cell with a recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes cathepsin B, wherein the encoded cathepsin B comprises an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to amino acids 8 1-328 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the recombinant expression vector enters the neuron or the glial cell, wherein cathepsin B encoded by the recombinant expression vector is produced in the neuron or the glial cell at a higher level than in a neuron or a glial cell not contacted with the recombinant expression vector, and wherein the encoded cathepsin B cleaves Aβ in the neuron or the glial cell.