This Nasal Spray Could Halt Dementia

Scientists at the university’s school of medicine had previously shown that rifampicin removes oligomers from the brain to improve cognitive function, but took a toll on the subjects’ livers. For the new study, researchers combined rifampicin with resveratrol, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in plants, to prevent the side effects to the liver. They found that the combination significantly improved cognitive function, curbed the accumulation of oligomers, and restored proteins that facilitate synapses without the hepatic damage. Medilabo RFP, a venture company started at the team’s lab, is now developing a combination nasal spray drug and preparing for global clinical trials.