A new study has shown that a nasal spray based on extracellular vesicles derived from the amniotic membrane (which surrounds the fetus inside the womb) may help reduce some of the effects associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers were able to observe these vesicles reaching the brain, reducing neuroinflammation, protecting nerve cells, and improving memory in experimental models of the disease.
The study was conducted by researchers from Italian academic and research institutions, and its results were published in the journal Translational Neurodegeneration.
The experimental treatment relies on extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles naturally secreted by cells that carry a range of molecules capable of influencing cells and tissues. Researchers extracted these vesicles from the amniotic membrane and then administered them nasally to an animal model mimicking Alzheimer's disease.
Experiments have shown that the vesicles reached the hippocampus, a key brain region responsible for memory and greatly affected by Alzheimer's disease, and entered neurons and microglia, which play a key role in monitoring the brain environment and responding to inflammation.
The results showed that the vesicles helped to reorganize the inflammatory environment in the brain and modulate microglia activity, thus providing more favorable conditions for preserving neurons and their functions. They also affected synapses, the points of contact that allow neurons to exchange information, as levels of proteins associated with neuroplasticity increased and synaptic transmission markers improved.
These changes were reflected in cognitive performance, with animal models showing improvements in memory and perceptual abilities, including recognition memory, spatial memory, and working memory. Experiments also indicated that the vesicles may help prevent the onset of memory impairment and reduce cognitive decline once it has occurred.
To further support their findings, the researchers tested the effects of the vesicles on human neurons generated from pluripotent stem cells, using skin samples taken from Alzheimer's patients and healthy individuals. These experiments also demonstrated protective effects of the vesicles on neurons.
The researchers believe the study's significance lies in its focus on the cellular environment surrounding nerve cells, not just proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, such as beta-amyloid and tau. The findings suggest that modulating microglia activity and molecular signals associated with inflammation may help protect synapses and maintain brain function.
The researchers emphasized that the results are still preliminary and preclinical, and that the treatment has not yet been proven in humans and does not currently represent a viable treatment for Alzheimer's disease. However, the study opens a promising avenue of research to explore the potential of utilizing the natural mechanisms the placenta uses to regulate inflammation and protect tissues, and to employ extracellular vesicles in developing new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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