The invention provides methods of treating, inhibiting, or ameliorating a disease characterized by aberrant deposition of beta amyloid in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutic amount of an interleukin 1 (IL-1) antagonist, wherein the disease, or condition is treated, inhibited, or ameliorated, or wherein the onset or progression of the disease, or at least one symptom of the disease, is delayed. The IL-1 antagonist is an IL-1 trap, preferably comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 and capable of binding and inhibiting IL-1. The therapeutic methods are useful for treating a human adult suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
