Put down the crossword puzzle and pick up the nasal spray.
While those of us interested in preserving our rapier wits and steel-trap memories have doubtlessly dabbled in puzzles, conversation and regular exercise, it is unlikely a nasal spray ever crossed our minds — or our noses — for that express purpose.
And yet, scientists from Texas have created a nasal spray they say soothes the persistent, low-grade brain inflammation associated with aging. This kind of inflammation, referred to as neuroinflammaging, is also considered a key driver of some neurodegenerative conditions.
Soothing this inflammation via a nasal spray could restore memory and help brains work better.
The treatment uses tiny transport molecules called extracellular vesicles. They typically ferry genetic information between cells; here, they were loaded up with microRNAs, which are responsible for the regulation of different signals throughout the brain. They helped target certain immune cells, the culprits behind the inflammation, and strengthened the mitochondria damaged by it. Improving how the powerhouses of the cell worked seemed to prompt brain cells to improve how they received information and stored it. Researchers called it “giving neurons their spark back.”
The effects lasted for months after just two doses. A caveat: thus far, this has only been tested in mice. It will be some time before the treatment makes it to noses without whiskers.
Why a nasal spray, you might ask? It’s simple. Your nose is a shortcut to the brain and its tissue — and it makes the treatment delivery much less invasive.
It’s nothing to sneeze at.