A novel nasal spray therapy shows potential to reverse age-related brain inflammation. In preclinical studies, the spray delivered extracellular vesicles, significantly reducing neuroinflammation and improving memory performance in aged mice. This approach targets neuroinflammaging, a chronic inflammatory state in the brain linked to cognitive decline.
The experimental therapy involved late middle-aged mice receiving two intranasal administrations of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles. Post-treatment analysis revealed reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus, alongside increased antioxidant protein expression and enhanced mitochondrial function. Key inflammatory signaling pathways were suppressed.
Behavioral tests showed treated animals exhibited improved recognition memory and cognitive flexibility compared to control groups. These findings suggest that nasal spray delivery of extracellular vesicles could offer a non-invasive method to combat neuroinflammaging and bolster cognitive resilience in aging.
Researchers believe this therapy holds translational potential for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and post-stroke recovery, though further human studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.