A method of treating injuries to or diseases of the central nervous system that predominantly effects glia and/or non-cholinergic neuronal cells characterized in that it comprises the step of increasing the active concentration(s) of insulin-like growth factor 1 and/or analogues thereof in the central nervous system of the patient. The present invention also provides therapeutic compositions comprising insulin-like growth factor 1 and/or analogues thereof for administration to a patient at or following a neural insult, which compositions are useful in minimizing damage to the central nervous system that would otherwise occur following the insult.
