Two doses of a new nasal spray developed by researchers at Texas A&M University have been shown to boost memory and reverse ‘neuroinflammaging’ – the slow-burning brain inflammation linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.
Bypassing the brain’s natural defence shield and travelling directly into brain tissue, the delivery mechanism proves to be as important as the biological parcels carried by the spray, which are packed with ‘powerful genetic cargo called microRNAs’.
Ashok Shetty, who led the team behind the breakthrough, says: “Brain age-related diseases like dementia are a major health concern worldwide. What we’re showing is brain aging can be reversed, to help people stay mentally sharp, socially engaged and free from age-related decline.”
The microRNAs enter immune cells and suppress inflammation. While at a cellular level, neuronal mitochondria are also recharged transforming the brain’s ability to process and store information.
“We are seeing the brain’s own repair systems switch on, healing inflammation and restoring itself,” Shetty said.
Though further research is needed, a U.S. patent has been filed by Shetty and his team.
The findings were published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
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