PBT-1033, also known as PBT-2, is a neural protective agent potentially for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's Disease. PBT-1033 is a moderate-affinity 8-hydroxyquinoline transition metal-ligand that acts as a synthetic chaperone, re distributing copper, zinc, and iron from locations where they are abundant to subcellular locations where they might be deficient. Delivery of copper and zinc by PBT-1033 into the cytoplasm deactivates the kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3β and the phosphatase calcineurin, both potential targets for Huntington’s disease. In aged wild-type mice, PBT-1033 improves cognitive ability and markers of neuronal plasticity and function. In Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, PBT-1033 inhibits the accumulation of amyloid β, attenuates neuropathological effects of amyloid β, including amyloid-β-induced hyperphosphorylation of tau, and improves cognition. In a 12-week, phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 78 individuals with mild Alzheimer’s dementia, PBT-1033 was safe and well tolerated and significantly reduced concentrations of amyloid β42 in CSF.