Texas
Texas study suggests nasal spray could reverse brain aging
Over time, the brain gradually loses some of its sharpness. But new research from Texas A&M University suggests that decline may be reversible with a nasal spray.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, researchers examined “neuroinflammaging,” a slow, chronic inflammation in the brain that builds with age and contributes to memory and cognitive decline. The researchers developed a nasal spray containing microscopic particles derived from neural stem cells. Mice at 18 months of age — roughly equivalent to 60-year-old humans — received the treatment. Compared with untreated mice, those given the spray showed reduced markers of brain inflammation and improvements in memory and cognitive function. The benefits appeared within weeks and persisted for months after just two doses.
“We are seeing the brain’s own repair systems switch on, healing inflammation and restoring itself,” Ashok Shetty, professor of cell biology and genetics at Texas A&M, said in a news release. “As we develop and scale this therapy, a simple, two-dose nasal spray could one day replace invasive, risky procedures or maybe even months of medication.”
With people living longer, age-related brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s are becoming more common. Studies estimate that about 42% of Americans over 55 will develop dementia, and as the population ages, the number of new cases each year is expected to double — from about 514,000 in 2020 to roughly 1 million by 2060.
In Texas, age-related brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s are considered a major public health issue, according to Texas Health and Human Services. The state ranks third in the nation for the number of people living with the disease and second for deaths related to Alzheimer’s. In 2020, about 460,000 Texans 65 and older were living with the disease.
The growing public health burden is one reason scientists are working to counter the inflammation that increases with age. Current treatments, however, have not been effective at stopping or reversing brain changes linked to neuroinflammaging, the Texas A&M researchers said.
Delivering treatments to the brain is difficult because it is protected by a barrier that blocks most drugs from entering — a challenge that often requires invasive procedures or limits how well therapies work. In the new study, though, Shetty and his colleagues used tiny biological packages called extracellular vesicles to carry genetic material known as microRNAs into the brain. These molecules act as regulators, helping control how genes are turned on or off inside cells.
After bypassing the brain’s protective barrier, the microRNAs help switch off signals that drive long-term inflammation in aging brains. They also boost the cells’ energy supply, which may improve mental clarity and support memory and thinking. That latter effect appeared to be reflected in behavioral tests, where treated mice could better recognize familiar objects, detect changes in their environment and adapt more quickly than untreated mice.
The findings are still early, the researchers caution. More research is needed to confirm safety, effectiveness, optimal dosing and how well the therapy would work in humans. Shetty and his colleagues are filing a patent for the nasal spray and hope to move toward developing a version that could eventually be tested in people.
“We aren’t just trying to understand the biological mechanisms,” Shetty said in the news release. “We are translating and developing our findings into real-world therapies that could make a difference.”
Tuesday morning is off to another warm start, with temperatures in the 70s. Expect another day with breezy winds, hot temperatures and Saharan dust in the sky. Most of the dust will move out of North Texas by Wednesday.
Temperatures on Tuesday afternoon will feel like triple digits, and this trend will continue into the Fourth of July weekend. Because dew points will drop slightly toward the end of the workweek, high temperatures should finally reach the 100° mark by Saturday.
There’s just a slim 10% chance of showers in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, with slightly better rain chances on Sunday and Monday at 20%. Until then, temperatures will continue to heat up, and the feel-like temperatures will be at 100°+ each day. Stay cool.
The Texas Longhorns are in a lull before firing on all cylinders ahead of the 2026 season, looking to once again handle expectations that are larger than most programs experience, for the season year in a row.
Ahead of the season, though, head coach Steve Sarkisian is already gaining victories on the road before even kicking off. After a slow start on the recruiting trail, the Longhorns are in full swing, stacking elite pieces for the 2027 cycle.
Now it is no different, as the program has landed a commitment from Jason Johnson, one of the most sought-after defensive line prospects in the country, and a big piece of the Longhorns recruiting class for the cycle.
Who is Johnson?
Johnson is widely viewed as one of the most slept on prospects in the class. He is ranked as the No. 42 defensive line prospect in the class and is a top 60 prospect in the state of Texas. Despite his star rating, though, he is one of the most sought-after prospects in the class, including multiple offers from elite programs around the country.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, he has the size of an edge defender but the strength and bull-rush ability of an interior defender, combining an elite mix of speed and power that makes him difficult to handle in the interior.
Johnson has a lot of projectability in his frame, and has the strength already to go with it. As he continues developing at the next level, he has the chance to turn into a legitimate interior wrecker at the college level.
Where Johnson Will Impact the Longhorns Future
The Longhorns have been the beneficiaries of elite defensive linemen under the reign of Sarkisian, and that won’t change for the upcoming season or beyond. The program has shown a profound ability to develop talent across the front of the defense and will continue to do so.
For Johnson, the defensive front is manned by veterans across it, with talented underclassmen waiting in the wings for their turn on the field. It also doesn’t help that, so far, he is the lowest-rated defensive line commit of the class for the Longhorns.
Still, the coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Will Muschamp love what Johnson brings to the field, and that was one of the reasons that his class ranking didn’t bother them. He will get the time to develop in the program, and could turn into a vital piece of the future.
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3 women accused of murder after fatal stabbing in Del Rio
Three women were charged with murder after a 32-year-old woman died following a stabbing in Del Rio, Texas, on June 25, police said.
Three women have been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a mother of five in South Texas.
The Del Rio Police Department initially responded around 2:10 p.m. Thursday, June 25, to the Val Verde Regional Medical Center after receiving a report of a woman with multiple stab wounds. Upon arrival, officers determined the assault had occurred in the 800 block of East 10th Street.
Del Rio police on Thursday, June 25, took into custody Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, and Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, in connection with the murder, according to the department’s media post.
The woman, identified as Caroline Peña, 32, according to KENS 5 in San Antonio, was transported to a medical facility in San Antonio for treatment but later died from her injuries.
According to the department, investigators gathered surveillance video, processed evidence, conducted numerous witness interviews and identified the three women as potentially being involved in the incident.
Two hours after responding to the initial call, officers located and arrested Kitty Diaz and Amaya Diaz without incident. Shortly after, officers located and arrested Kyandra Faz in connection with the investigation.
Video captured during Kitty and Amaya’s arrests shows both women grinning as law enforcement places them in their police vehicles.
All three suspects were transported to the Del Rio Police Department for booking and processing. When investigators were notified of the women’s deaths, each was charged with murder and transported to the GEO Correctional Facility.
Del Rio police say the investigation remains ongoing, noting that additional charges may be filed at a later time.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
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