Neuro-enhancing agents, compositions and methods are disclosed herein. Preferred neuro-enhancing agents of the present invention include progesterone and metabolites of progesterone, such as 3&alpha-hydroxy-5&alpha-pregnan-20-one (THP). These agents yield neuro-enhancing effects on neural cells that include neural progenitor and/or stem cells, whereby the agents stimulate mitosis of neural progenitor cells, stimulate neurite growth and organization, protect against neural loss, or one or more of these neural processes. Thus, the neuro-enhancing agents, compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful to reverse or prevent neurological disease or defects associated with neural loss or degeneration, such as Alzheimers disease, neurological injuries, including injuries resulting from radiation therapy, and age-related neurological decline, including impairments in memory and learning.
