Disclosed are methods of inhibiting, regulating, and/or modulating the formation of soluble, globular, non-fibrillar, neurotoxic amyloid .beta..sub.1-42 oligomers from amyloid .beta..sub.1-42 monomers. Also disclosed are methods of treating a patient suffering from diseases associated with the formation of soluble, globular, non-fibrillar, neurotoxic amyloid .beta..sub.1-42 oligomers.