A groundbreaking study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine has validated a long-sought goal in Alzheimer’s research: delivering insulin directly to the brain using a nasal spray. This milestone, made possible by Aptar Pharma’s precision nasal drug delivery system, could reshape how we approach treatment for Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
🚀 Why It Matters
For years, researchers have explored intranasal insulin as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s. Insulin plays a key role in brain function, and resistance to it has been linked to cognitive decline. But until now, scientists lacked direct evidence that insulin administered through the nose could reach the brain’s memory centers.
This new study changes that.
🧪 The Study at a Glance
- Participants: 16 older adults (average age 72), including 7 cognitively normal and 9 with MCI
- Method: A radiolabeled insulin compound was delivered via a six-spray nasal system, followed by PET brain scans
- Findings:
- Insulin reached 11 key brain regions tied to memory and cognition, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and olfactory cortex
- Cognitively normal participants showed higher uptake and more sustained delivery than those with MCI
- Uptake varied by sex, vascular health, and amyloid levels, suggesting potential for personalized treatment
💡 What’s New
This is the first direct imaging evidence that intranasal insulin can reach its intended brain targets. It also revealed that individuals with early cognitive decline may absorb insulin differently—an insight that could guide future clinical trials and tailor therapies to individual needs.
🛡️ Safety and Tolerability
The procedure was well-tolerated:
- Only two participants reported mild headaches that resolved within 24 hours
- No serious adverse events
- Blood glucose levels remained stable throughout
🔍 Beyond Amyloid
With growing concerns over the limitations of anti-amyloid drugs, this study supports a metabolic and delivery-focused approach to Alzheimer’s treatment. Aptar’s nasal system could be adapted for other neurological therapies, opening doors to a broader range of interventions.
🧭 What’s Next
The Wake Forest team plans larger validation studies over the next 12–18 months to explore how factors like vascular health and amyloid accumulation affect brain insulin delivery. As Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., lead investigator, put it:
“We now have a roadmap directly to the brain”.
This study marks a pivotal moment in Alzheimer’s research. By proving that insulin can be safely and effectively delivered to the brain via nasal spray, scientists have unlocked a new frontier in treatment—one that’s non-invasive, targeted, and potentially transformative.
