Researchers at Texas A&M University College of Medicine have developed a new therapy that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by several years. Their study, published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, focuses on reducing brain inflammation, a key factor in Alzheimer’s, using a nasal spray.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death in people aged 65 and older. Nearly seven million Americans are affected by the disease, which leads to memory loss and cognitive decline due to the buildup of harmful plaques and proteins in the brain.
The researchers designed a non-invasive nasal spray to target cells that cause chronic brain inflammation. When tested in animal models in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the treatment significantly reduced inflammation and slowed down the buildup of these harmful plaques.
How the Therapy Works
The therapy is based on tiny particles called extracellular vesicles, which are derived from neural stem cells. These vesicles carry molecules that can reduce the harmful effects of inflammation in the brain.
“Our approach is effective because these extracellular vesicles help reduce the brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s,” explained Dr. Ashok K. Shetty, the study’s lead researcher and associate director at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
In Alzheimer’s, the brain’s immune cells, called microglia, normally work to remove harmful plaques. However, over time, these cells become overly active, causing chronic inflammation that harms neurons and leads to brain cell loss.
The study found that the nasal spray treatment altered the gene activity of microglia, reducing harmful inflammation while allowing them to continue clearing Alzheimer’s-related plaques.
Promising Future for Treatment
Dr. Shetty and his team are hopeful that this new therapy could delay Alzheimer’s symptoms by 10 to 15 years after diagnosis. He has already filed a patent for the treatment and believes it could also help other neurological conditions.
“Our journey to advance this therapy is just beginning,” Dr. Shetty said. The promising results have inspired further studies, and researchers are working to bring this potential treatment closer to human trials.
Review and Analysis
This study presents an exciting breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research. Current treatments can only manage symptoms temporarily, but this therapy offers a way to slow down the disease itself. The use of a nasal spray is particularly significant, as it provides a non-invasive way to deliver treatment directly to the brain.
One of the most important findings is that the treatment helps reduce brain inflammation without stopping the microglia from performing their essential function—removing harmful plaques. This is crucial because previous treatments targeting inflammation often weakened the brain’s natural defense system.
However, while the results in animal models are promising, human trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, and treatments that work in lab studies do not always show the same success in real-world patients.
If further studies confirm its benefits, this therapy could be a major step toward changing how Alzheimer’s is treated, offering hope for millions of patients and their families.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease , and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
