Spanish researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona have developed a nanoparticle-based injection that restores the brain’s natural defenses and could become the foundation for the world’s first vaccine against dementia. Experiments on mice showed a significant reduction in the toxic beta-amyloid protein and the restoration of brain function, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The nanovaccine works through the blood-brain barrier—the brain’s natural protective shield, which loses its function in Alzheimer’s disease. Tiny nanoparticles, smaller than 200 nanometers, circulate in the blood and restore the brain’s ability to clear itself of the toxic protein.
Project leader Professor Giuseppe Battaglia noted that just one hour after injection, mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms showed a 50–60% reduction in beta-amyloid levels. In old mice, the equivalent of 60-year-old humans, complete behavioral recovery was observed six months after the injection.
The team is continuing to study the drug’s safety and toxicity. If results are positive, human clinical trials could begin in the coming years. The researchers believe the discovery opens a new era in medicine, allowing for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by activating the brain’s natural defense mechanisms.
