In certain embodiments hydantoin compounds are provided herein that are effective to inhibit BACE activity against APP. Without being bound to a particular theory, it is believed the activity of the hydantoins identified herein appears to be associated with binding to BACE and/or to APP particularly when these moieties form a BACE/APP complex. Accordingly, it is believed the compounds described herein represent a new class of compounds designated herein as APP-Binding-BACE Inhibitors (ABBIs) and provide a new mechanism to modulate APP processing. The hydantoins described herein appear to show improved brain permeability and functional BACE inhibition.
