New nasal spray could slow down Alzheimer's

(NewsNation) — Alzheimer's disease is as cruel as it is devastating, but it seems that with each passing day, new advances are made to try and halt the condition in its tracks.

The latest one? A nasal spray developed by a Harvard University-affiliated hospital.

The spray works by treating inflammation in the brain and reducing it so that the patient's thinking and memory will no longer deteriorate. That's the theory, at least.

"We think that inflammation plays a very important role, because the amyloid in tau and other proteins cause inflammation in the brain, sort of like getting pneumonia," Dr. Howard Weiner, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham and the developer of the spray, tells "Elizabeth Vargas Reports".

"And this inflammation causes toxic substances and damage to the brain, and there really isn't anything that's targeting inflammation. We've had very good results in our animals, and we've also been using this in other neurologic diseases like (multiple sclerosis), where we've seen positive effects."

Patient showed less symptoms with spray: Doctor

Currently, there are more than seven million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's. That number is expected to double by 2060. However, the new nasal spray could change that based on the results of Weiner's patient.

"Our first patient showed a dramatic effect on decreased inflammation in the brain," said Weiner, who lost his mother to Alzheimer's disease.

"His wife says that he is more socially engaged when he went to the Super Bowl with his friends, he seemed to understand more. He looks after himself more.

"So the family thinks things have stopped or slowed down and that he's doing a little better. But it's only one person, and that's what they say."

Spray getting another trial run with 32 people

Weiner said his hospital is going to try the spray on more people, 32 to be exact. Anybody can sign up.

"There's a way you can register or whatever, and then you get screened," said Weiner.

As for whether the spray will be more effective, Weiner is hoping so. He says the spray can be given with other treatments and works well with other drugs based on the trial done.

He also believes the spray is three or four years away from being approved by the Food and Drug Administration as they are set to begin the second phase of trials.