Overview
- Texas A&M scientists reported Monday in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles that a nasal spray improved memory and lowered brain inflammation in 18-month-old mice.
- The spray delivers extracellular vesicles from stem cells into the nose in two doses two weeks apart, leading to better scores on object recognition and spatial memory tests.
- The vesicles carry microRNAs that tune gene activity to reduce inflammatory signals, which helped reset microglia in the hippocampus and revive mitochondrial energy use.
- Researchers say no human trials have started, and they filed a patent as they plan next steps while stressing that dosing, safety, and real-world benefit still need proof.
- Because the nose offers a path to the brain without surgery, the team frames this as a possible future option for age-related memory loss as dementia cases rise worldwide.