The “neuroinflammaging syndrome” can lead to memory loss as we age. The overactivation occurs in certain immune pathways, such as the NLRP3 Inflammasome, the cGAS/STING Pathway, and can cause inflammatory signals, like type 1 Interferons.
Researchers have found that extracellular vesicles (small particles) released from lab-grown neural stem cells may contain special microRNAs which could help to reduce brain inflammation.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found that inflammation associated with brain ageing and “brain fog” may not be permanent and can be reversed. The proposed treatment is even more shocking, as it does not involve complex or invasive procedures. Researchers are instead exploring the use of a nasal spray that targets brain inflammation.
Researchers at Texas A&M University, led by Dr. Ashok Setty and including Dr.
Madhu Lelavathi Narayana, Dr. Maheedhar Kodali developed a nasal saline spray which showed promising results in the early stages of research.
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The treatment improved memory in the study models with just two doses. It also reduced inflammation in the brain, restored energy-producing cells in brain tissue, and helped reduce brain swelling. The most striking thing was the speed of its effects, which lasted for several months.
This study published in ‘Journal of Extracellular Vesicles,’ suggests that there may be a new way to treat brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers say that the impact of their work is huge.
Dr. Ashok shetty, of Texas A&M University, believes that a two-dose nasal spritz could replace more intensive treatments and long-term medications for conditions related to the brain.
It is important because the number of dementia cases expected in the United States will increase dramatically, rising from 514,000 in 2020 to 1,000,000 by 2060.
This highlights the importance of better treatment and prevention options.
This is a rare finding in biomedical studies and indicates a broad efficacy.
Researchers believe that this method could help with not only aging-related cognitive decline but also recovery from stroke.
They believe that the ultimate goal of a longer life is to have a better brain in older years. This will keep people as mentally alert, aware and independent as they can.
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Extracellular vesicles are the tiny bioparticles at the heart of this research. They act as natural packages that carry genetic material, microRNAs.
The microRNAs in our brains act as switches to control biological processes.
It is important to consider the delivery system as well as the content. The EVs were placed in a nasal spray to allow them bypass the protective brain barrier, and go directly into the brain tissue where cells can take up the EVs.
Maheedhar Kodali, senior research scientist at the University of California-Berkeley said: The mode of delivery of our treatment is exciting. “Intranasal treatment allows us to directly reach the brain without any invasive procedures.”
MicroRNAs calm down major inflammatory pathways after entering the brain. These include the NLRP3 Inflammasome, the cGAS/STING Pathway, and other pathways that are associated with long-term inflammation of the brain in aging.
The treatment improves the mitochondrial function of the brain cells, which is also at the cellular level.
The therapy can improve the ability of the brain to form and process memories by restoring the energy flow.
Dr. Madhu Leelavathi Narayana said, We are reactivating brain mitochondria by reducing the oxidative damage.
The lab results were backed by behavioral tests.
The nasal spray-treated models performed better on memory tests, such as recognizing objects, and noting new ones, or changes to their environment, than the untreated group.
According to Dr. Ashok S. Shetty, Texas A&M University, the findings suggest that the brain’s repair system may have been reactivated, which would reduce inflammation and help restore functionality.
The team, although more research still needs to be done, has filed an U.S. Patent for this therapy. This is a first step towards possible future treatments of brain disorders and aging.
Journal Reference
- Leelavathi N. Madhu, Maheedhar Kodali, Shama Rao, Sahithi Attaluri et al. Intranasal Human NSC Derived EVs Treatment Can Relieve Inflammatory Hippocampus Transcriptome and Signaling NLRP3, cGAS, STING, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. DOI: 10.1002/jev2.70232
