Texas A&M Scientists Develop Nasal Spray to Reverse Brain Aging in Mice

Researchers say the spray reduces inflammation, a key factor in cognitive decline.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:05pm

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A highly textured abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex biological and chemical forces at work in the aging brain.A nasal spray that reduces inflammation may hold the key to reversing the effects of brain aging.College Station Today

A team of scientists at Texas A&M University claim they have developed a nasal spray that improves the working memory of older laboratory mice. The researchers believe the spray works by reducing markers of inflammation, which is a common feature of aging brains.

Why it matters

This research could lead to new treatments to combat cognitive decline and dementia in humans as they age. Reducing inflammation in the brain has long been a target for scientists studying age-related neurological conditions.

The details

The Texas A&M team says their nasal spray formulation was able to restore the working memory of older mice to levels seen in younger mice. They attribute this effect to the spray's ability to lower inflammation in the brain.

  • The research was conducted at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

The players

Texas A&M University

A public research university located in College Station, Texas.

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What’s next

The researchers plan to continue testing the nasal spray formulation in further animal studies before potentially moving to human clinical trials.

The takeaway

This breakthrough research from Texas A&M offers hope that a simple nasal spray could one day help reverse age-related cognitive decline and potentially treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease.