The present invention provides compounds and methods of administering compounds to a subject that can reduce .beta.APP production and that is not toxic in a wide range of dosages. The present invention also provides non-carbamate compounds and methods of administering such compounds to a subject that can reduce .beta.APP production and that is not tocix in a wide range of dosages. It has been discovered that either the racemic or enantiomerically pure non-carbamate compounds can be used to decrease .beta.APP production.