Current Alzheimer's treatments can only relieve symptoms, but researchers have developed a promising nasal spray that may slow disease progression by up to 15 years in people, based on mouse model studies.

The spray targets microglia and astrocytes - brain cells that cause neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. While these cells normally protect nerve cells and remove damaged tissue, they become overactive in Alzheimer's and destroy nerve cells after initially clearing beta-amyloid plaques.

In the study, researchers from Texas A & M University College of Medicine administered an anti-inflammatory nasal spray derived from stem cells to mice showing early-stage Alzheimer's symptoms. The treatment significantly reduced:

• Microglial clusters
• Neuroinflammation gene activation
• Beta-amyloid plaques

The effects were most notable in the hippocampus, the brain region critical for learning and memory. Both male and female treated mice demonstrated improved cognitive and mood function compared to untreated mice.

Importantly, reducing microglial activity did not impair their beneficial functions. The treatment regulated these immune cells effectively while allowing them to continue clearing protein buildup associated with Alzheimer's.

While the results are encouraging, experts emphasize the need for human studies to validate these findings. Key considerations include:

• Potential side effects of altering brain immune response
• Long-term consequences of immune cell manipulation
• Need for diverse treatment approaches
• Importance of exploring different drug delivery methods

The research suggests that nasal delivery could be an effective method for treating Alzheimer's disease, which is expected to affect 152.8 million people by 2050. However, extensive clinical trials are needed to confirm the treatment's safety and efficacy in humans.

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