Scientists Create Nasal Spray That Reverses Brain Aging in Weeks
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Texas A&M researchers have developed a nasal spray therapy delivering microRNA-loaded extracellular vesicles directly to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier to reduce chronic brain inflammation linked to cognitive decline.
- The therapy, tested on aging animal models, restored cognitive functions such as memory and environmental adaptation within weeks, with effects lasting for months and working equally well in both sexes.
- This non-invasive, two-dose treatment targets overactive immune cells in the brain, promoting repair rather than destruction, and recharges mitochondrial function, which typically deteriorates with age.
- While promising, the therapy is still in preclinical stages with human trials years away, and potential side effects or long-term impacts have not yet been disclosed.
- The breakthrough could revolutionize treatment for age-related cognitive decline and dementia, which is projected to double by 2060, and has attracted support from the National Institute on Aging.
