A nasal spray can slow brain ageing, cut brain inflammation and restore memory in two doses, with effects lasting months, according to a new study.
Researchers from Texas A&M University in the US said the spray could reshape future therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, and may even change what is known about brain ageing itself.
Ashok Shetty, lead author of the study, said: “As we develop and scale this therapy, a simple, two-dose nasal spray could one day replace invasive, risky procedures or maybe even months of medication.”
A growing body of research suggests the brain fog that comes with age is linked to inflammation deep within the brain’s memory centre.
Scientists call this neuroinflammaging, a term for age-related inflammation in the brain that is thought to be part of growing older.
But the new mouse study suggests that the inflammation behind brain ageing and brain fog can be reversed with the nasal spray.
It contains millions of microscopic biological parcels known as extracellular vesicles, which act like delivery vehicles carrying genetic cargo called microRNAs, the active ingredients.
Shetty said: “Our approach redefines what it means to grow old.
“We’re aiming for successful brain ageing: keeping people engaged, alert, and connected. Not just living longer, but living smarter and healthier.”
Researchers said the nasal spray worked equally effectively across genders and may one day help stroke survivors rebuild lost brain function.
Co-author Madhu Leelavathi Narayana said: “MicroRNAs act like master regulators. They help modulate and regulate many gene and signalling pathways in the brain.”
With the help of the extracellular vesicles, the microRNAs bypass the brain’s protective shield and travel directly into brain tissue, where they are absorbed.
Another study author, Maheedhar Kodali, said: “The mode of delivery is one of the most exciting aspects of our approach. Intranasal delivery allows us to reach and treat the brain directly without invasive procedures.”
Once in the brain, the microRNAs suppress protein systems such as NLRP3 and cGAS-STING, which are known to drive chronic inflammation in ageing brains.
The treatment also recharges the mitochondria, the structures inside cells that produce energy, inside the brain’s neurons, scientists said.
Narayana said: “We are giving neurons their spark back by reducing oxidative stress and reactivating the brain’s mitochondria.”
Mice treated with the nasal spray showed improvements not only in recognising familiar objects, but also in detecting new objects and changes in their environment.
Shetty said: “We are seeing the brain’s own repair systems switch on, healing inflammation and restoring itself.”
Researchers said a US patent has already been filed for the nasal spray, and hope it could become a breakthrough for brain ageing treatments.